It's Your Turn!

While completing the 30 month transition plan, A.'s Mom told me that one of her goals was for A. to be better at sharing and playing cooperatively with others. Mom stated that he would get angry easily when playing with his cousins and could be aggressive. We talked about how difficult it was for most two year olds to share and discussed skills that he could learn that could help this process. Two ideas that we have been practicing are turn taking and trading toys. At our visit today Mom and I were pleased to see the progress he is making as these skills are modeled and he imitates them. When he and his cousin both wanted the same toy, Mom and I began announcing whose turn it was with happiness and enthusiasm: "A.'s turn" then "your cousin's turn." After several repetitions he began initiating the turn taking. Later he wanted a toy that his cousin had. We suggested that he use his words and ask his cousin if she would lend it to him and suggested that he offer her a different toy. He was pleased when his cousin agreed. A. is learning that hitting and snatching toys are not the most effective ways to play with others and he is learning a new skill set to replace those actions with. CRS