It can be difficult for children to share their home, their toys, and their mom with other children. Young children aren't capable of understanding the idea of sharing until they are around 4 or 5 years old. Your child may feel that nothing is his, that the other children have taken over the most important things in his world.
Here are some tips for working with your own child when you care for other children in your home:
* Allow your child to set aside some of his favorite toys that won't be shared with the other children. Those toys should be placed in his room or in a closet where the other children can't get them. Sharing those toys with the other children should be his choice.
* Set aside some special time each day for just you and your child. That time might be at the end of the day when the other children have gone home, or if the other children are busy playing, you could ask your child if she would like to read a story or play a game with you.
* Talk with your child about her feelings; for example, you could say, "I know it's hard for you to see other children sitting on my lap."
* Ask your child to help prepare for the next day. He may want to help prepare a snack ahead of time, set out art materials, or plan where you'll go for a walk.
* Keep the same rules, whether the other children are there or not. It's confusing to a child if the rules change. If the children aren't allowed to walk on the sofa during the child care day, the rule should be the same after the children have gone home.
