Keys To Teaching Children To Share

It is normal for young children to be afraid to share. It’s also normal for them to feel that whatever they love is theirs, even if it isn’t. Sometimes young children can even be violent in defending “what is theirs”. Despite this, it is necessary to teach sharing to children, showing them that by doing it they can earn more. In this article, we are going to share with you the keys to teaching children to share.

After all, sharing is not a natural ability; it is an acquired skill. However, it is not easy to assimilate. For young children, understanding what it means to give and receive is difficult, especially because their notions of time and language are still abstract. For example, there is no point in telling a child that he will pick up his toy in 5 minutes, because it will not mean anything to him.

Young children are in a phase of egocentric development and are beginning to recognize themselves as individuals who own their own objects. They are starting to explore the concept of possession and still do not understand the idea that certain things belong to other people.

The good news is that despite the difficulties involved, children are able to learn to share. But it does require patience and a good education on the part of parents and other authority figures.

How to teach sharing to children?

Generally children understand the concept of sharing from the age of three. However, it will take some time for them to be ready to share. Although the child begins to develop empathy and knows that he has to wait his turn, he is not yet mature enough to resist all of his urges. Most three and four year olds put their most immediate interests first.

A young child may not realize that even if they don’t have a toy, their turn will come soon. However, despite the dissatisfaction that may appear, their sharing capacities are evolving. Here we give you some tips that will help you teach children to share, and thus help them develop this ability.

1. Set an example

If you want your child to learn to share, it is important that they have good examples and role models to follow.  So seeing yourself sharing things with other people, asking for things with a “please” and then saying “thank you” can all be beneficial for him and make him want to act in the same way.

 2. Remember that your business is your world

Children’s objects are their world. If you force them, you will only strengthen their obsession with protecting their belongings. The child must learn that sharing is not losing or giving up objects, no; sharing with other children makes the game much more enjoyable.

3. Try to understand why your child does not want to share

Maybe your child doesn’t want to share something because it has special meaning for them or because they are afraid that another child will break or destroy what they have done or achieved. He may even have reason to think so, even if he doesn’t know how to express it.

4. Use positive resources

When your child agrees to share, reinforce this behavior in a positive way. By acknowledging his action, praising him or rewarding him with something he likes.

5. Be patient

Some children find it difficult to understand that sharing is fun. However, do not worry; over time, they will come to understand this notion. The more the child develops social skills and makes real friends, the more he will be able to understand that sharing is a pleasure.

6. Help your child understand that sharing is more than just exchanging items.

In addition to swapping and sharing items, you can also share time with a story or an adult’s attention. Adding the word “share” to your vocabulary as often as possible is very useful for the child to incorporate it into their daily actions.

It is essential to instill in children the value of sharing

Learning to share can be a challenge for young children. But it is a challenge they must take up. It is an important ability that they need in order to be able to play and interact with other children.

However, not all children have this ability. You surely know colleagues, friends or relatives who, even as they grow up, have never realized the value of sharing. It is therefore not always pleasant to be around them. Once you reach adulthood, it is often too late to learn to share; it is therefore all the more important that this capacity be acquired during childhood. So, don’t underestimate the importance of teaching it to children, especially if it’s your own!