Thanks girls...often the "sharing" thing is just impossible though.

I agree with encouraging high self esteem and I guess I worry that DS' self confidence will be eroded if he never seems to win these little power struggles. He never tries to take toys off another child (he will hover till they have finished with it LOL) but it's just like what shellbell said - I just want him to be able to hold his ground.

Part of the "problem" seems to be that in the last 2 or 3 months he seems to have started to understand the concept of playing "with" other kids instead of just alongside them, which perhaps makes him a bit more agreeable than average. I too worry that he will get walked over because he is just generally eager to please. I'm a SAHM so now, anytime other kids play with DS (say at the park or a playcentre) he is just elated and would follow them anywhere. He seems to get "adopted" by kids who are slightly older than him. I'm going to start him in a playgroup next year (I'm having a baby in 2 weeks so not prepared to commit to a playgroup right now).

I know I was a bit worried a while back (when he was about 15-16 months) because he wasn't shoving other kids but then he suddenly started headbutting and I had a new worry LOL. However we were very quick to nip that in the bud and that's really been the only sign of that "typical" aggressive toddler behaviour you hear so much about.

DH thinks all this is positive and that he doesn't want a "thug" for a son, and points out that neither he nor I are particularly aggressive and we never got picked on at school. I know that some of my friends have toddlers that are hitters and pinchers and are tearing their hair out...maybe I should just thank my lucky stars????