Typical Two Year Olds...

[playfelt]

Don't be afraid to raise your voice to emphasize the no - kids hate it. No one likes getting yelled at and sometimes they need to hear it back to realize it wasn't nice to be yelled at, have someone in their face etc. - what they were doing to the other kids.

It also helps to establish the when I say no I mean no rule in that when I am nice and gentle and speak softly you are playing well but when I raise my voice and get in your face you are not. Rule is don't let me get to that point or you won't like it.

Somewhat typical behaviours but still not acceptable. Make sure that the blocks of time they are doing freeplay are smaller so that you do a group thing or intervene - get out a new toy, or sit down in the middle of the room to read a book to anyone that comes. That will help them to break the intensity cycle - once they get started getting upset they have trouble stopping it till it has run it's course which means someone else generally get hurts.

Limit the number of children that can play in certain areas if necessary and make sure there are plenty of one child areas that don't have to be shared so a child can go there to play and know that no one can bother them - making a puzzle, reading a book, a matching game or certain toys like a shoe box (garage) and some cars so they can set up their scene and play.

[Sarah A]

I totally agree with everyone an I have plenty of room for the kids to play and plenty of toys but my problem is that the younger ones are always interested what the other is doing and they play a lot together. It's hard to have two of every toy but I do have a lot of similar ones.