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If my LO starts being possessive at the playground of the equipment, I reiterate that everything at the playground is for everyone to use, and he has to take turns. If he can't do that, then we need to go home. Could you try sitting her on the bench for a minute to send home the message that her behavior is not ok (even though I think it's very very normal!).

@daniellemybelle: oh ha I am SO used to public tantrums I think it's pretty normal to see that at the playground! Or you could always try redirecting to another fun activity (different slide, bubbles, chalk, a snack, etc). I also don't think it's helicopter-y to manage turn taking at that age--if she's having trouble with it/learning how to do it, I think it's good to help her navigate--that's how they figure it out! My LO will now echo the words I used to say to him to other kids if they're not sharing/taking turns.

ETA using turn taking rather than sharing has been waaay more effective!

Haha, Sophie is pretty similar about the possessiveness! Though as she's pretty shy, she'll either not want to go near the slide if others are on it (I'm trying to teach her to queue!) or tell me that there's someone on "her" equipment as if I'm going to do something about it! I just say the kind of things you've said and move her on to something else if she doesn't want to share. In the last few weeks though I've definitely seen signs of her sharing and interacting more with other kids rather than along side them. She'll be 2 in a couple of weeks.

DS got so bad about doing this at our My Gym class that I cancelled our membership. I'm not proud of that but it got too stressful for me to deal with after a full day of work. I just wanted to play with my kid and coexist with others nicely!

He has pretty much gotten over it not but if it does happen on the playground or other shared spaces I do that same as Hilsy. I tell him that these aren't OUR toys, they are there for everyone to share and that we will go home if he can't share with everyone. He typically backs off and chooses to do something else in that case. I do my best to help him navigate the situation while being respectful of the other children. I have had to do a timeout at MyGym on a couple of occasions. I honestly can't say that it worked though, it just pissed him off more.

The best you can do it try to help her understand that in those situations she needs to share, and know that she will eventually get it and move past this stage!

So far L is ok about sharing toys if I talk to him, but he's incredibly possessive of me! When I come to get him after work he immediately goes over to each of the other kids and yells in their face (not in a fun "omg my mom is here" way) "MMMYYYYYY MOMMY". One of the other kids kind of teases him and says "MY mommy" and L will raise his hand like he's about to hit him and says "NOOO MMYYYYYY MOMMY". I always have to have a little talk with him after that exchange. I am wondering if he'll start getting possessive about items soon too. ugh.

No advice but I definitely sympathize for you!

@daniellemybelle: I agree with @hilsy85: - at this age taking turns makes more sense to them than sharing. My 2 year old seems to think that sharing is just another kid taking something away FOREVER, but she understands them playing for a bit, and then her playing for a bit when it comes to toys. And I redirect while she's waiting. With playground equipment, I do a really enthusiastic "the slide is for everyone! let's take turns!" when she's sprawled across the top blocking everyone and screaming. and then I narrate what we do with the slide like a crazy person - "we slide down, weeeeeeeee! Then we look up and see there are more kids at the top who want to have a turn! So we RUN back up the stairs! And we wait in line for our turn! And then we slide down! Weeeeeeee!" repeat x1000.

Do we have the same kid? My 19 mo daughter has been doing this to all her friends the past two weeks. I always correct her and the other moms get it, but: Jeez, L, stop being a jerk!!!

My usual approach is to let her do her thing from affar but if she's not playing nice, I intervene and enforce first come, first serve.

I don't use the concept of sharing at this age. I just would say "everyone goes on/in that." If she wouldn't move I would say "can you move all by yourself or should I pick you up?" And if that results in a tantrum so be it.

As far as social interactions I do think it's normal. My daughter didn't start really being interested in the other kids at the park until more like 2.5, and even at almost 3 she plays alone a lot, climbing and hanging on stuff and what not, just depending on what age kids are at the park.

H is the same way. We're working on it. I've got nothing to add other than support because I know how it is and it's frustrating.

My son did exactly this at 2 years old. I just kept explaining that all they kids get to play at the playground and we share, etc. At 27 months he still has trouble sharing toys but doesn't yell "no" to others like he did before. One thing that helped my LO was encouraging thim to say hello to the other kids. I think he felt threatened or something by all these new people around him, so if I got him to say hi and maybe learn their name he seemed more comfortable and less possestive.

@daniellemybelle: our towns must be so different because I feel like everyone hovers around their kids here on the playground!