Parenting Tips
By Myrna B. Shure, Ph.D
For the WHYY Children's Service

Toys at Holiday Time

Do your kids fight over the brand new toys at holiday time? Here's how David's dad talked to him about this.

Dad: David, why are you grabbing your brother's new sailboat?!! You have brand new toys of your own.

David: He never lets me play.

Dad: If you grab like that you'll tear the sail and Daddy will be mad and you'll end up in your room!

Did David hear a word of this? Dad tried this again - the problem solving way.

Dad: David, how do you think your brother feels when you grab his toys?

David: Mad.

Dad: And then what happens?

David: We fight.

Dad: And how do you feel about that?

David: Mad.

Dad: Can you think of something different to do so you both won't be mad and you won't fight?

David: I can let him play with my toys too.

Whose doing the thinking now - about feelings, and how to solve this problem?

David, is four years old.