How to teach young children to share

Teaching children to share

Sharing is a concept that is essential in every child's life. Teaching that concept can be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding tasks of a parent. If sharing is taught early in a child's life, much of the sibling problems later can be avoided.

Sharing will be even more important as the child grows up and shares life with a partner. Sharing teaches unselfishness, and unselfishness is the key to getting along, not only with siblings, but with friends or acquaintances or partners. In other words sharing is an important part of every aspect of life.

Instructions

Step 1

The first sharing game

When a baby learns to reach out and grab, make a game of giving and taking. Use a word such as "ta" or "please" or "share". Say it in a happy way and then give a toy. Say it cheerfully again and take the toy away.

Step 2

Talk about sharing

Use the word "share", or "sharing" often and always in a happy way.

"Shall we share some fruit?"

"Look, that boy is sharing with his daddy."

"Oh, thank you for sharing with Mommy."

Step 3

Read about sharing

Find a good book about sharing such as "Sharing Makes Me Happy" and read it to the child frequently.

Step 4

Praise children for sharing

Praise your children whenever they share cheerfully. Let them know you think they are acting very grown up.

Step 5

If they forget to share

If your children start fighting over a toy, smile gently and say, "I have to take that toy away. It is making you so unhappy. It is even making you forget how to share."

Take the toy and put it away until the bad attitude is gone, and they are willing to share.

Sharing makes me happy

Nathanael reviews a book he loved as a baby with Noelia.

Things Needed

Love

Patience

The book, Sharing makes me Happy

Tips & Warnings

Play the sharing game often with your baby.

Keep making the game more complex as the baby grows older.

Don't ever talk about sharing with a frown.

Don't use a tone of voice that you would not want the child to use.

Look for opportunities to practice sharing.

When a new baby comes or when friends start wanting to come over, talk to your children about teaching their new sibling or friends how much fun it is to share.

photo by Carol Flett

Sharing Makes Me Happy

by: Dot Cachiaras
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Carol Flett
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