Teaching Children To Share

It is normal for children to be afraid to share. It is also normal for them to feel that everything they want is theirs, even when this is not the case. Sometimes children can even show violent attitudes to defend their belongings. Parents therefore have the task of teaching sharing, showing their children that by doing so they can achieve more.

After all, sharing is not a natural skill, but a learned skill. But it is not easy for children to understand what it means to give and receive, especially since they do not yet have the tools to understand time and language. For example, telling a two-year-old that he will have his toy back in a few minutes means little to him.

Childhood represents an egocentric phase of development, when the person begins to recognize himself as an individual with his own objects. He begins to explore what it means to own something and does not understand that not everything is his.

The good news is that, with difficulty, children can learn to share. But this requires patience and good training on the part of parents and educators.

How to teach sharing?

Children usually understand the concept of sharing by the age of three. But it will take some time before they are ready to put it into practice. Although they begin to develop empathy and know they have to take turns with others, they are not mature enough to resist all their urges. Most three- and four-year-olds actually put their own interests first.

A child may not understand that although in the present moment he does not have the desired toy, his turn will come soon. He may be reluctant at first, but slowly his sharing skills will mature. Below we present some strategies that will help the little ones to mature this skill.

Lead by example

If you want your children to learn to share, it is important to give them a good example to inspire them, a role model to follow.

Whether it’s sharing food or colors or letting someone complete an activity, children need to understand that they need to share with others, ask for things to please, and learn to say thank you.

Don’t forget that his toys represent his world

Children’s toys represent their world. If we force them to share, we will negatively reinforce their obsession with keeping them safe.

The child must learn that sharing does not mean losing or giving up and that sharing with other children is much more enjoyable.

Check how he uses what others share with them

When other children share something with our children, it is a great time to point out the benefits of this action to them. If the toy is common, they can play together or take turns and then leave it where it was. So the child can understand that there is nothing wrong with this dynamic and that sharing is fun.

Try to understand why the child doesn’t want to share

The child may not want to share something because it has special meaning to him or because he fears that someone else will ruin the work he has done or achieved. He may have reason to think so, even if he doesn’t know how to express it, because the other child has already done so in the past.

Use positive reinforcement to teach sharing

When the child shows a positive attitude and is inclined to share, it is good to positively reinforce his behavior. This way, you will recognize this action and can congratulate him or reward him with something he likes.

Be patient

It’s hard for some kids to understand that sharing is fun, but time is a great equalizer – everything will come in its own time. As the child develops his social skills and makes friends, it will be easier for him to understand sharing as beautiful and fun.

Sharing is more than exchanging items

You can teach your children that sharing also means spending time together, as well as exchanging and sharing items. Whenever possible, these circumstances are very useful for the child and should be integrated into his daily life.

Teaching to share is important

Learning to share can be a challenge for children, but it must be faced and overcome. It is an important skill they need to play and benefit from interacting with others.

But not all children learn this skill the same way. Surely you have colleagues, friends or relatives who, even as adults, have not acquired the ability to share. And these adults are hard to deal with, sometimes you don’t even like being with them.

Acquiring this skill as an adult is next to impossible, which is why it is vital to develop it in childhood. Do not underestimate the importance of educating children to share, especially if it is your children.