Superstar Sharers

Sometimes I'm blown away at the level of fair share toy usage that comes unprompted between Sam and Anna.  (Other times, it's typical 2 year old grab-yell and maybe physically lash out, I won't deny that.)  What's more, they communicate want they want so well with each other, it often bowls me over.  It definitely makes our days easier when they get along well considering they are rarely apart.

For discipline we use a 1-2-3 count for most minor misbehavior, and we also say 1-2-3 when their time is up to have something and it's time to hand it over to their sibling for awhile.  If we get to 3 and they continue disobeying after that, they get a time-out.   It has worked extremely well for us so far.  (Overall, I would say our discipline style is a combination of Love and Logic and 1-2-3 Magic.  I've researched both for a grad course and combine both in my classroom as well.)

Three I-Don't-Want-To-Forget Moments:

The other day while we were going for a walk, Sam had his daddy's hat and Anna wanted it.  She said on her own without adult intervention "Sam, 1, 2, 3!" and Sam handed that thing right over without hesitation.  Then, believe it or not, Anna said, "Thank you Sam" and we continued on our merry way. 

Today, I took out a new-to-them toy that had been sitting in our basement and I had forgotten about.  Anna was playing with it first while Sam watched nearby.  He said,"Anna, you share, okay?"  and she kept on playing.  Sam counted 1, 2, 3 and then said "Anna  you move over?" and lo and behold, she did.  Sam got his turn and she started playing with something else.

Also today, Sam and Anna were eating a snack and Anna had a box of bunny crackers while Sam was eating pretzels.  Sam took a bunny cracker from Anna and she cried.  Daddy told her that they were everybody's crackers, not just hers and asked her to give him one.  She did, and then unprompted Sam said "Thank you" while signing it.  She responded "You're welcome" and then made it into a little game- after he put a cracker into his mouth, she fished out another to give to him.  He kept saying thank you after each one, and she kept replying you're welcome until the rest of the box was gone.  It was too cute.