by Holly Burns
West Des Moines Community Schools
Parents of Preschoolers Information Network

Help Your Child Learn to Share

Does your young child have trouble sharing? For many children, sharing does not come easily. While some children find it easy to share, others may struggle to learn this social skill.

Many professionals say that children may not really understand the concept of sharing until they are four years old. At age two, children are just learning how to possess something, so they will use the word “mine” frequently. Toddlers have to learn to “possess” something before they can learn to share it.

However, parents can begin to model and teach skills to children as young as two. Toys such as playdough, crayons and blocks may be easier for children to learn to share because they can each have some of the same thing. Here are some other ideas to try:

• Practice taking turns with your child and role-play sharing with your child.
• Praise her for small successes, so she can understand that sharing is a positive way to get your attention.
• Teach your child to ask before taking a toy from another child (rather than just grabbing the toy). Be sure and tell him the other child might say no.
• If your child has a toy that is very special to him, allow him to put that toy away when others come to play. Some toys are just too hard to share.
• Make your child aware of how adults share with others, as well. Set a good example of the power of “giving” and how it makes you feel good when you do.

We all want our children to be kind to others and to share. Fortunately, most children do learn this as they grow. Peer interactions at play groups, daycare or preschool will help give your child real opportunities to learn. Parents can help children by having realistic expectations and understanding that it may take time to develop appropriate social skills, such as sharing.

by Holly Burns
West Des Moines Community Schools
Parents of Preschoolers Information Network

Used with permission