Does your older child have somewhere they can play without younger child (children)

[wysiwyg]

Do you have somewhere your oldest child can play without interference from younger siblings?

Mine share a room, and get on pretty well but sometimes DD would like to play without DS joining in (generally involves throwing everything up in the air and saying Oh-oh). I can try keep him away but his sister is pretty much the most interesting thing in the world to him so is difficult without physically restraining him. I encourage her to play or draw (she likes to use felt tips - he likes to draw on table) when he is asleep which works ok - but just wondering how other people manage?

I could create a space on the top bunk for her to play - but not sure if this is necessary (he will be able to climb up there soon and this will only encourage him I expect)

[Phteven]

No. They don't have any special space. I gave them separate bedrooms for a while but I kept finding them asleep in one room so in the end I made it easier for them and put both beds in the same room.

[Amaunet]

My DS1 will sit at the dining table to play Lego, draw, play with little hazardous toys etc

[wysiwyg]

My DS1 will sit at the dining table to play Lego, draw, play with little hazardous toys etc

Yes that worked for a while but I can't stop him climbing up to join her at the table anymore. They are ok together drawing but he can't quite grasp the drawing only on paper yet - so felt-tips have to be only when he is in bed.

[Astrid]

The girls share a bedroom, but they are allowed to play in the living area or in the spare bedroom. So they can get away from each other if need be in theory. What tends to happen is DD1 wants to be left alone, but DD2 just wont leave her be no matter what room she is in or what we say.

[wysiwyg]

The girls share a bedroom, but they are allowed to play in the living area or in the spare bedroom. So they can get away from each other if need be in theory. What tends to happen is DD1 wants to be left alone, but DD2 just wont leave her be no matter what room she is in or what we say.

Yes mine are allowed to play anywhere - their room, our room, living room, balcony - but looking at the age of your two Astrid I will just have to deal with it for many years to come! DD is pretty good about it to be honest, is probably me that feels for her more than it bothering her. Someone had said something to me about that is why is easier for them to have their own rooms so I think maybe it made me feel bad about the fact they don't - but sounds like it probably wouldn't matter how much room you have it is just their relationship dynamic.

[LuluHB]

Yep. we have a toy room and for the time being at least, that's Miss I and Miss E's space. Miss A's toys are in the lounge and she plays in there. The big girls can come and play with her, but in their own toy room they don't need to worry about age appropriateness of things. Not sure how things will go in years to come - will tackle that when we need to

[Santosha]

Yes, DD has her own room... but she rarely uses it. She gets annoyed by DS 's "participation" but when I suggest that she could play the same game in her room, she either declines or it only lasts 5 minutes as she prefers to be with us. She will sit up at the dining table to do some things but he quickly cottons on and starts trying to climb up and reach what she's doing.

The only thing that she will happily go off to do without him is craft/draw as I've set her up a table in her room but even then, she doesn't do it for long.

I agree, it seems like a good idea for them to have space. But in my (sample of one) experience, they don't necessarily take it!

[Traveller]

My oldest boy and my daughter have their own rooms but my other two share. However I try to encourage them to respect when their sibling needs space and have solo access to the shared room at times.

[~Hestia~]

Our boys each have their own room and neither is 'allowed' in the other bedroom unless invited so to speak. Moo has all his little cars, trains, Legos etc that aren't appropriate for Buster to get hold of (he eats anything!) in his room, Buster has all the babyish stuff and there are toys all over the house they can both play with.

I never thought I would be so strict but this is the only way we have any kind of harmony in the house at the moment. We recently realised they needed a space that was all theirs, with no one eating, throwing or knocking over precious items I'm sure it will change as they get older!