My kids, I mean. Argh. They are 7, 5 and 3 and they know they have to share toys and they still decide they all want the same thing at the same time! My rule is, you figure out a way to play together, or to take turns, in a way that you are all happy, or I will put that toy away. You'd think it would have sunk in by now, but no!!!

does that rule work at all? My girls are terrible with sharing, and I hate that it seems I have to have 2 of everything just to keep them from tearing each other apart! And you know, when I make them take turns, they don't play with it when it's their turn... they just want it because the other has it! GAH!

Yes, I remember the days well. You're right, no matter how many times you tell them it just doesn't work.
All I can say is around the age of 9 or so it will sink in a lot more.

It does work to a certain degree. I don't insist they share special toys, for example, like if one has his Webkinz, I don't insist he give it to his siblings for a turn.

But things like our legoes, or our Thomas trains, it usually works. Someone will want, for example, to keep playing with the drawbridge, and the others shriek (yes shriek) that their train has to travel through, and the first one doesn't want to stop. Generally, if I say that they have to figure out a way to take turns and all play together with that sort of a large toy, they can manage. On occasion, if there is just a big fight over everything, I have said "It looks like you (the collective you) cannot play with this toy together, so the toy will have to go away, and you will each have to find your own toy." That's no fun for anyone, so they generally figure it out.

Except on occasion, and then, I'm just ready to rip out my hair, LOL!

I've always like the share or it goes away method myself. Some days it works better than others though. Some days there's nothing that works it seems, lol.

I am happy that I have passed that stage in our lives. I remember too well, when like knitting.mama, they all wanted the same toys at the same time - or none at all. I guess you just have to do what you have to do until they pass this phase.

I am sorry that you are struggling with sharing! We have had issues once or twice but on the whole this is not a big thing for us and I don't know why. Certainly I didn't do anything in particular to encourage good sharing.