7 Tips on learning to share

Learning to share is all part of growing up, although it doesn't always come naturally with young children.

Follow these tips on helping your toddler and pre-schooler learn to share and to develop friendships along the way.
 

7 Tips on learning to share

 

1. Set an example

 

• If you have something good that you know your child will enjoy then share it with them.

 

• The more you are prepared to share then the more they are likely to learn positive habits from you.

2. House rules

 

• If your child has a friend coming over for a play date, talk through sharing their toys, sharing morning tea etc before their friend arrives.

 

• Gently remind them of the benefits of sharing and how they would feel if they went to a friend's house and had to sit and watch while their friend played with everything and left them out.

 

3. Favourite toys

 

• If you're planning a play date, put their favourite toys away on the understanding that any remaining toys are to be shared.

   

4. Take toys with you

 

• If your child is visiting a friend and you know the friend has yet to master the joys of sharing then take a few toys with you.

 

• These should be toys your child is happy to play with, but are not their favourite toys.

 

• There is a good chance that the other child will then wish to swap toys and share their own.

 

5. Sharing activities

 

• Part of the learning process is understanding that it is not just toys that need to be shared.

 

• Activities also need to be shared and tried such as painting, drawing or making puzzles.

 

6. Offer alternatives

 

• Try to remember that all children have problems sharing.

 

• Therefore if a child appears very reluctant to share they are only following their natural instincts and are not quite ready to go all the way with sharing just yet.

 

• Try to find alternatives that keep everyone happy.

 

7. Praise praise praise

 

• If you notice any child sharing then give them praise.

 

• You can do this after playtime has finished as well as when it happens.

 

• This helps to reinforce the point that they shared well and increases the chances of them sharing happily in the future.
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