Children must grasp the concept of sharing to foster friendships, engage in collaborative play and tasks, alternate turns, negotiate effectively with peers, and cope with disappointment. Yet, instilling a genuine desire to share in children can be quite challenging, particularly regarding cherished possessions.

Explore practical tips outlined in this article for teaching children the art of sharing, which can aid in their sharing development.

Understanding the concept of sharing

Understanding the concept of sharing can vary based on age.

Toddler

At the age of two, children are in a developmental phase where they acquire fundamental social and emotional skills. During this stage, they may not grasp the concept of sharing completely. Having unrealistic expectations of perfect sharing from a two-year-old is not practical.

Children at this age are still in the early stages of understanding and regulating their emotions. Sharing involves emotional management, which they are just starting to learn. It's important to wait until they are older, provide guidance, and set an example for them to introduce the idea of sharing effectively.

Preschool age

As children enter kindergarten, they start grasping various concepts, such as taking turns, waiting in line, and sharing. They begin to learn about fair sharing by swapping snacks with friends, borrowing toys from one another, or using crayons from a shared box.

It's beneficial to teach children about their own feelings and those of others, helping them develop empathy and perspective-taking skills. It's important to note that children at this age are still in the process of understanding others' emotions and perspectives.

School age

During the school-age years, many children become proficient in taking turns and sharing, even with their favorite possessions. This period is ideal for reinforcing the concept of sharing, as children are now ready and capable of understanding it.

Effective strategies for teaching children to share

Here are some effective strategies for teaching children about sharing, considering their developmental understanding of the concept:

Be a role model

Children under five do not understand the concept of sharing perfectly so you can teach the concept of sharing by modeling good behavior. You can demonstrate the concept of sharing and taking turns by doing things in front of your child.

For instance, you can share a cake with the family in front of them, let them choose which book to read, encourage them to play with other children their age, discuss the importance of sharing through storytelling, or use special occasions like birthdays to celebrate with others.

By incorporating sharing examples into your daily routines, children can start to comprehend the concept and eventually apply it more easily.

Keep in mind that your preschooler's belongings and toys are his whole world

For adults, toys may be of little importance. However, children view toys as treasured possessions so it will not be easy for them to lend or share with others the things they love so much.

Therefore, show respect for children's toys. Teach children to thank the lending child when they share another child's toy to play with. Then, as parents, don't carelessly lend toys that children like without their permission. Find out what objects or toys they don't want to share with others. Praise your child when you see them trying to share or take turns in playing with other children.

Shows that sharing is fun

Another way to teach sharing is to show that sharing is fun. Invite children to participate in fun sharing, for example, by wrapping gifts or food packages to donate or making greeting cards for friends or family celebrating something.

You can also make children play games that involve sharing toys and changing turns. You can guide your child in playing by saying, "Now it's mom's turn to put up her lego; after that, it's your turn, darling."

Ensure the child understands the concept of sharing

Sometimes, children struggle to grasp the concept of sharing, leading them to refuse, cry, or resist sharing. As previously mentioned, children often perceive their toys or cherished items as valuable treasures, and it's important to treat these items with respect.

Ensure that they witness instances where sharing doesn't necessarily mean giving the item away permanently. Sharing can involve using items together with the understanding that they will be returned to their owners.

Children who resist sharing their favorite toys or items, especially toddlers, are not necessarily selfish. They may simply not grasp the concept of sharing yet. Pressuring them to share before they understand this concept can impede their social development and make them feel as though their rights are being disregarded.

If you want to know more about a child's development or have problems related to the child's development,? You can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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