Friday, February 09, 2007

The Seven Rules of the Toddler

I just unearthed this from a folder of early childhood resources from a class I took right after my son was born.

  1. If I like it, it is mine.
  2. If it is in my hands, it is mine.
  3. If I can take it from you, it is mine.
  4. If I had it a little while ago, it is mine.
  5. If it is mine, it must never appear to be yours in any way.
  6. If I am doing or building something, all of the pieces are mine.
  7. If it looks just like mine, it is mine.
SillyBilly will take his "special things" (which change daily) and put them up on a high shelf that Napoleona can't reach. And they will both hoard books on their laps so the other can't read them.

I was an only child, therefore I never developed this need for hoarding. ALL the books and toys were mine! I could share with magnanimity when I so chose. So I find this behavior just at bit mystifying and quite a bit irritating.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kiko's an only child and he seems to have fully internalised the "it is mine" mantra. I've noticed him hoarding food, and if I point to a picture in a book he's reading he will grab my hand and forcibly push it away. I was quite shocked when he first did this! I had visions of him becoming a nasty oil baron with a cigar clenched between his teeth. I do hope it doesn't last beyond toddlerhood.

Henitsirk said...

Helen, that is a funny image, Kiko chewing on a big cigar! I think he'll be OK, it's just a phase of individuation (I think I said that on your blog once) that is necessary though annoying for parents.

Anonymous said...

Funny, when I was reading the rules I kept thinking, "this sounds like GWBush's philosophy of life."