The dreaded "mine" has started. My daughter is 18 months. What's the best way to handle this?
Edit: I have actually listened to myself to see if I say it, but I typically (husband, too) say "that's mommy's - this is June's." or "That's daddy's." We rarely use the word mine. She only started it last week, which I actually thought was pretty good - she just had a new girl start at her daycare, I sort of wonder if she picked it up from her - not that it really matters, she was going to get it from somewhere at some point.
Its a phase.
Its her age.
They will move on. And then hit another cognitive concept.
Distract her.
Try not to argue about it. It just brings more attention to it.
They don't even know how to "share" yet nor even have social skills.
What fun.
;)
.
Depending on when she's saying it I would say " Yes, this is yours but we can share like this" or something to that affect and just be patient. It won't be this bad soon but if not taught to share and be generous it can go on for lifetime.
I'm with Suzanne, if it does belong to her, then yes but we're going to play with it together, or we are going to share so we can have so much more fun. If it is something that doesn't belong to her, such as another kid at daycare or a friend or families kid, you'll want to try your best to help her understand that she is sharing what is theirs, as well as she shares her things. good luck, have a Merry Christmas!
Not say it so much yourself! :)
I was shocked at how often I said "Mine." when my son was little, and then promptly took "mine" away:
"Oh no, honey, that's mine."...
"This is mine, this one is yours."...
"Ohp! That's mine."....
So I erased it from my vocabulary, and then my son stopped saying it as well!
it's fine! She's developing a sense of herself in the world around her, a normal, healthy stage. Please don't make her share at this age, it screws up her understanding of what's hers and what she has a right to, for example, I read that it makes them feel like it's ok for others to touch their bodies inappropriately etc, because they are sharing.
