Learning to share can be a challenge for young children, but sharing is a skill they need for play and learning throughout childhood. Every child will learn to share if we give them plenty of time and opportunities to practise. Praise and encouragement for good sharing will help too.
Sharing is a vital life skill. It’s something toddlers and children need to learn so they can make and keep friends and play cooperatively.Once the child starts having playdates and going to child care, preschool or kindergarten, he’ll need to be able to share with others.
Children learn a lot from just watching what their parents do. When the parents model good sharing and turn-taking in your family, it gives the children a great example to follow.
• When we see our child trying to share or take turns, we should give lots of praise and attention. For example, ‘I liked the way you let your friend play with your train. Great sharing!’
• Play games with the child that involve sharing and turn-taking. Talk to the child through the steps, saying things like, ‘Now it’s my turn to build the tower, then it’s your turn. You share the red blocks with me, and I’ll share the green blocks with you’.
• Talk to the child about sharing before she/he has playdates with other children. The child can be talked about sharing before she/he starts child care or preschool.
Although it’s important to share, it’s OK for children to have some toys that they keep just for themselves. It’s a good idea to put away these special toys when other children come to play at your house or carry it along. Ipsaa believes in discouraging the parents to get toys from home which can help avoid problems with sharing however, will encourage the children to get detached with their favourite toy outside instead learn to care and share different toys with other children.
Sharing At Different Ages
• Toddlers probably doesn’t understand what sharing is. In general, young toddlers believe they’re the centre of the world and that everything belongs to them. For sharing, children also need to be able to manage their emotions, and toddlers are only starting to learn how to do this. So, consequences for not sharing probably won’t help your toddler learn to share. Instead, encouragement and practice will work better.
• Pre-schoolers by age three, many children are beginning to understand about turn-taking and sharing. For example, your pre-schooler will probably understand that sharing equally is the ‘fair’ thing to do, but he still might not be keen to put sharing into action when it comes to giving something up. He might also still be impatient when waiting his turn.You can build your pre-schooler’s sharing skills by watching for and praising good turn-taking, encouraging fairness and explaining about sharing.
• School-age children also have a strong sense of fairness and might not want to share a toy or a play a game if they think they won’t get a fair go. It might help to check the rules of the games your child is playing and reassure your child and others that they’ll all get a turn.At this age, your child will be much more patient and tolerant than he used to be.
Ipsaa teaches children Sharing is all about compromise and fairness. They learn that if we give a little to others, we can get some of what we want as well. Children who share also learn how to take turns and negotiate, and how to cope with disappointment. These are all important life skills.
Children learn a lot from watching their parents’ reactions and behaviour, so you can set a good example by sharing yourself. Lots of praise and encouragement when you see your child doing good sharing will also help. Ipsaa believes that clear communication and connection with every child will lead to Care and Share.