Help! Battling 4 year olds

[missmollymayhem]

I've started watching a little girl for 2 hours on Wednesdays- she's 1 month younger than my DD, who will be 5 next week. I've committed to this for 8 more weeks, and her mom is a co-worker of mine.

The problem? The girls both want to be the "boss". They spend the entire time bickering. It's driving me nuts! They are both very snippy and rude to eachother, and neither one of them seems to have anything nice to say to eachother. I've tried time outs, reasoning, mediating, ignoring..... what can I do?!?

[guest7]

Give them activities that don't involve cooperative play. Just for some peace and quiet. They have to learn to socialize with others. That's life. You'll be doing them both a favor by helping them along.
It's not uncommon if they are only children- to not have that experience in socializing.. Just like animals, they'll find thier pecking order. Leave them be.

[missmollymayhem]

Thanks, Cheryl! I think we'll try coloring or something next week- maybe in different rooms

[Emerald_Mommy]

I watch a little girl just a bit younger than Isabel. I have a rule that if they come fussing to me about a toy ("She won't share) they both lose the toy. After a few instances of this they've learned to leave me out of it. The only time I intervene in their playing is if they're being actually physically violent with each other (which is rare). I mostly ignore what they say to each other, although it is humerous to listen to. I agree that they'll work out their own "pecking order". I try to switch from free play to organized activities to break up the monotony and if it's close to the end of a stressful day I'm not adverse to them watching a video for awhile. Of course I wouldn't let them watch movies all day but nothing beats it for 30 minutes of peace.

Good luck!