Their older siblings seem to fall in a different category. They look up to their other three siblings. In their little eyes their big sister and their two big brothers are so much to them including part leader, part hero, and part guardian.
What a huge advantage it is for them to have a sibling to show them both the ropes. As their mother, I can't help but notice how many of their play habits have been learned from actively playing with and observing their sister and brothers.
This morning they are hiding from baby dragons and baby lions that lurk around the playroom. They've moved furniture, gathered their stuffed animals, and traveled about. The couch is a rocket ship, the chairs in the kitchen have been pushed together to form a bus. Pillows are lava rocks ... All part of a role-played adventure game older brother Hayden taught them. At first, they only played this little scenario out when Hayden was around but now it has carried on without him as he spends the day at school.
It's not just this one game either. Their play style has been formed in other ways too. I've seen them play football and football trainer games together, in fact that came up in a previous post. They color much like other toddlers, but to them it is "homework" they are doing just like their sister. I could go on and on ...
Oh sure parents can teach their children play as well, and I have. However, I venture to guess I would not have invented a game for them that involved lions, rockets, dragons, and lava rocks. Having older siblings is certain to make this duo true All-Stars at play.