Sharing, or lack there of.

I don't know how my son learned his most recent behavior - I don't know if he learned it from one of us, or if he's just acting on his in-born sinful nature. Anyhow, here's how playdates go:

Scene:

• Teague (Levi's buddy) has a toy
• Levi runs up to Teague, screams, and pulls it - nay - rips it from his hands
• A laid back Teague moves on to a different toy
• Assuming this toy must be more interesting than the first, Levi runs up to Teague, screams, and rips it from his hands
• A laid back Teague moves on to a different toy
• Remembering that THIS was indeed the toy he wanted, Levi runs up to Teague, screams, and rips it from his hands
• I step in and hold said toy on my lap for both boys to use at the same time.
• Cue temper tantrum and all-out wail fest from my flesh and blood.

And... Curtain.

So, what do I do?

EVERY time someone picks up a toy - any toy - my son simply HAS to have it. It's thoroughly aggrivating for me, and I can only imagine how irritated his little pals are going to become. Of course, it's worse with the toys at our house than it is when we're in the homes of others, but it happens there too. He's determined to get his way.

Wait - did I just describe a toddler?

Possibly, but there simply MUST be a cure for this type of behavior. How do I teach him that he cannot take toys from others - at the ripe old age of 15 months? I need a strategy here people. Help!

After writing this post, I found This article which describes, to the letter, what Levi does. Even the "proto-sharing" which he's an ace at. Proto- sharing is what we, in elementary school, used to call "indian giving" (VERY not-PC. I know. I'm not condoning the use of the phrase). It involved handing a toy out to another individual as though you were going to give it to them, and then pulling it back. Where do they get this stuff??