Scene: The BG, MO and LO playing in close proximity on the floor.
BG: Vrooom see it’s taking off now [saying to the MO]. Character 1= legoship with wheels”You’ll never catch us now” . Character 2= farmer who is playing a bigger role today, “This is not the end!”
MO: Wait….the boat. It’s a boat.
BG: No we changed it remember. It’s a ship now.
MO: NO…….[getting up and yelling]
BG: OK… calm down it’s a ship now and next time it’s a boat. Alright?
MO………………… pause……………. weighing up this response.
Enter LO who grabs the spaceship/boat. Promptly takes off the wheels and throws the wheels one way and the farmer the other, then runs.
MO and BG take off running after the LO …………
Lots of shrieking and laughing from the LO .
MO gets to the LO first. The BG rounds the corner and gives him a big hug and wrestles him to the floor.
Lots of laughing and screaming from the LO and the MO looks on.
BG: You silly. Don’t be taking out boat! Don’t be taking out boat! Don’t be taking out boat!
MO Yeah it’s our spaceship! spaceship spaceship spaceship
Scenes like these happen often… Here I was impressed with many things and how things played out and a few things surprised me.
However many times you separate your fighting children what words you use are powerful because they will repeat them back. Whatever you model they become
Children surprise you with their words and actions you least expect. Sometimes you smile and many times you’ll be disappointed.
They’ll handle things differently than we would like but they have to find their way too. Stumbling at home, finding their voice, being assertive, learning to be flexible I’m glad the boys feel safe to do this type of learning at home.
After this little event I did speak to the MO and the BG at different times during the day. Nothing heavy but wanted to talk about what had happened?
Would you do anything differently? | Did he fill your bucket
I don’t do this for every event. We are a bigger influence than we believe on our children and especially what comes out of their mouths.
We focus a lot on play activities here but if the children can’t get on with each other how can play occur.
