defence

I have read about how child as young as 3 months can learn to manipulate others in their environment to meet their needs. I haven't done as much study on siblings and how fast they learn to defend themselves from older brothers and sisters. My personal observations are it is soon after they learn how to get fed. With the 2nd child I believe she was around 6months old when she learned to go for her brother's eyes. She instantly received the response she was looking for which was for him to get out of her face. Her first sentence was,"Back off'." Now the even our littlest has learned his defence. He has found a way to make the helmet he is required to wear a weapon to his advantage. When he had enough he began to head butt his sister. He got his response. She backed off. Even though he had just asserted to her that he was done playing she just laughed and made a fort out of his play yard. What amazing forgiveness!