Sibling issue

My 3 year old has a hard time leaving her 10 year old brother alone when he is doing his homework and things. I usually just try to distract her with something else in a separate area. Most of the time it works.

Can the little one be put in a playpen while the older one is eating, watching, working? Maybe the older one needs to do his homework in his bedroom, and watch TV in there if he has a TV. If he can't be in there, then the little one should be put in a playpen or something, where she can't reach the older one.

you don't say what the difference in ages is between the 20month old and the sibling. He is obviously of school age and if doing homework, could be over 11/12 years old. There has to be tolerance on both sides. The elder has got to have quality time with parents,etc., So the younger has to be educated that big brother has to have time to do his own stuff, but will make time for little sis as well. So its up to mum and dad to make rules and abide by them. 20 months old is probably walking, talking so should be able to understand "No"and "not yet." There is no need for chastisement just patience and understanding. Little sis should be given something to occupy her such as drawing, playing with toys, making models out of plasticine. Big brother in turn could make some time for little sis, by perhaps teaching her to read or reading to her.

vingyan06 After listening to how some mylotters here handle their four or five or six children without much real problems, I am a tad loathe to moan over a mom having a headache over caring for two children.Mom just needs to divert the twenty month old daughter attention to something she will love to do, then the older child can go ahead and do her own thing. Mom can also keep the younger one in a different room and play with her occasional as thats probably what the younger one wants from big sister. this is so easy, wait til this mom has more children then whats she going to do?. he he he.

why not putting the toddler in a different room when the elder is doing homework? I know education is important so she might do that. When it's supper time, she can space up the distance a bit btw them. Like is the toddler sitting in the baby chair? She won't be able to reach the elder. I don't have any children by the way. I know it may sound silly but did the mom try to talk to the toddler? Like when she is bothering the elder, the mom can give a glare at the little one and express how she is not appreciating this only when the elder needs time to concentrate on important things. My cousin has a baby too and when he is doing bad little things, the father fronts his eyebrows and sraises voice a little : "Gabriel! No! Don't do that! It's not nice!"

I am no expert BUT, I think that this person should let the little one 'disturb' the older one BRIEFLY. With whatever the LO have going on. Then redirect the LO explaining that OO is doing homework or watching tv and they need to leave him alone now. But be nice about it. I think the little one may trying to interact and needs to be taught that you can't all the time but alittle is okay and not a bother but a nice interuption. Know what I mean?

Kids love to play with each other, especially the smaller ones. I think that it is probably because the smaller one is afraid of being ignored and might feel lonesome without anyone playing with her that she keeps begging her elder sibling to play with her.

I do believe an older sibling is entitled to not be interrupted all the time by a baby. To help the situation when my children were small, but quite spaced out in ages, the older child/ren had a room of their own where they could do homework. For mealtimes, the littlest ones can be taught about table manners early, place in a high chair, or fed a bit earlier? When all else fails, I felt it was my duty and joy to entertain the youngest child during those times they sought to pester the older ones. If a child is running the parents or the household before the age of 2, there is sure to be even worse bothers ahead. Karen