Toddler Rules of Possession

As we are quickly moving into the toddler phase (where did my little baby girl go?), I am starting to pull out my old early childhood teacher tricks and toys. I must admit I have been looking forward to this! While our days are still pretty much based on independent exploration with supervision and some safety guidance from me, we are getting a routine down. In the coming months, I will start to plan an "activity" for each day. Even if that activity is just getting out a particular toy such as the toys cars and learning how they move across the floor.

Of course our biggest thing is learning to share and wait/take turns. As Alex and Evie start to play and interact with one another more, I am reminded of the Toddler Rules of Possession that we talked about during my teaching seminars, and many of us had posted in the back of our plan books, just to remind us what the mind set of a toddler really is! I thought I would share..even if you have seen it before, I find it is always a nice reminder.

Toddler Rules of Possession
1. If I like it, it's mine.
2. If it's in my hand, it's mine.
3. If I can take it from you, it's mine.
4. If I had it a little while ago, it's mine.
5. If it's mine, it must NEVER appear to be yours in any way.
6. If I am doing something or building something, all the pieces are mine.
7. If it looks like mine, it is mine.
8. If I saw it first, it's mine.
9. If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.
10. If it's broken, it's yours.