Fighting Over Who Gets To Clean Up?

[MamaJ]

I have two girls here 6 months apart in age (2.5 and almost 3). the younger one is my own daughter. I know they both like to please me, but they fight over cleaning up!

For example (not real names), "susie will you pick up that crayon please" causes Rosie to rush to get it before Suzie. Since I asked Suzie to do it specifically, this causes her to cry that Rosie rushed in before she had a chance to pick it up.

So, how would you handle that? happens several times a day (and it goes both ways with both girls). Would you discipline the one who swooped in to do the other girls "job" just so she could have the satisfaction of doing it, since it made the other girl cry?

I could just not assign specific tasks, but it just happens. Say, Susie will be 2 feet from the crayon on the floor, and Rosie will be across the room on the other side, so it seems logical to just ask Susie to do it. seems to always happen that Rosie will hear about the crayon picking up before Susie's little brain even has time to register what I'm saying and makes a beeline for it (or whatever it is that I'm asking to be cleaned up). many times they get there at the same time and it end up with a tug of war over the said item, and tears.

suggestions?

[Zoe]

My own two kids do that ALL THE TIME. BOY it drives me nuts!!! They're almost 6 and 4 but continue to do it. I find that if I'm near a child, I'll somewhat block that kid and then ask the other one to pick something up. That way I can counteract the kid I'm near and then can ask them to pick something else up. It gives the child I've given the direction to the chance to get that toy while making the other child aware that I didn't ask him/her to do anything yet. Then tell them both thank you.

That's all I've got. If you figure anything else out, you let me know!

[newtodaycare22]

I've had this before-drives me bonkers. I Tell them that cleaning/helping is the CRAZIEST things to FIGHT over. In that situation, I started taking the item and putting it back (after Rosie rushed to me, who I wasn't originally speaking to). Then, I asked again calmly, "Susie, can YOU bring me the crayon"

They should be old enough to get it. A serious look at Rosie will help too. Once Susie brings it, I would explain, "Rosie, I like that you want to help, but Susie wants to help too and you need to listen to my words. I said HER name. Now, can you get me the truck (or whatever)"

That seemed to work with my 3s.

[Meeko]

"I have TWO special jobs that need doing! Sara...I need those blocks by the slide put away. Penny....I need those legos in this box"

[sharlan]

"I have TWO special jobs that need doing! Sara...I need those blocks by the slide put away. Penny....I need those legos in this box"

This is what works for me.

Most of the time, I have the opposite. Johnny, will you pick up that paper? Jimmy, you get it.

[kendallina]

I have a few who do this sometimes. I stop the do-gooder mid-stride (with my voice) and say, "no, susie, you heard me ask jane to get it." Or something like that. If they've gotten the thing before they heard my voice, then they need to give it to the person that I asked to help. They usually comply.

I like the strategy of telling one to do this and the other to do that, if it's always the same two children that do this.