7 keys to teach children to share

It is normal for young children to be afraid of sharing. It is also normal for them to feel that everything they want belongs to them, even if it is not theirs. Even sometimes young children can show violent attitudes to defend “what is theirs.” Despite this, it is necessary to teach children to share, showing them that by doing so they can earn more.

At the end of the day, Sharing is not a natural skill, but a learned skill. But it is not easy. For young children, understanding what it means to give and receive is difficult, especially because they lack a clear understanding of time and language. For example, telling a child that you will get her toy back in a few minutes means little to a two-year-old.

Young children are in an egocentric phase of development, beginning to recognize themselves as individuals with their own things.. They are beginning to explore what it means to own something and have not grasped the idea that some things belong to other people.

The good news is that, although it is not easy to achieve, children are capable of learning to share. But this requires patience and good training on the part of parents and educators.

How to teach children to share?

Children generally understand the concept of sharing around age three. But it will take a while longer before the child is ready to do so. Although the child begins to develop empathy and knows that he must take turns, he is not mature enough to resist all of his impulses. Most three- and four-year-old children put their most immediate interests first.

A toddler may not understand enough to realize that even if he doesn’t have a toy now, his turn will come soon. Despite the outbursts that may appear, beneath the surface your sharing skills are maturing.

Next we see some keys to teaching children to share that will help them mature in these skills.

Set a good example

If you want your young son to learn to share, it is important that he has good examples, models to look at. . It can be by sharing something to eat or letting them color and decorate something you are doing, for example, a reminder note or something you prepare on your own to share. It is also very interesting to see you share with other people, ask for things please and say thank you.

Don’t forget that his things are his world

Children’s things are their world. If you force them, you will only negatively reinforce their obsession with keeping their things safe. The child must learn that sharing does not mean losing or giving up things, and that sharing with other children makes the game much more enjoyable.

Monitor his use of what others share with him

When other children share something, it is a great time to let the child see what is happening. The other child shares with him and then takes back what is his and takes it with him. If the toy is common, several can play with it and then leave it where it was. This way the child can see that nothing happens and that sharing is fun.

Try to understand why your child doesn’t want to share

Your child may not want to share something because it has special meaning to him. or because he fears that another child will ruin what he has done or achieved. They may even have reasons to think so, even if they don’t know how to express it, such as the other child having already done it on another occasion.

Use positive reinforcements

When your child shows a positive attitude and shares, provide positive reinforcement recognizing his action and congratulating him or rewarding him with some small thing that he likes.

Be patient

Some children have a hard time understanding that sharing is fun, but time is a great equalizer: everything will come. As your child develops social skills and makes real friends, he or she is more likely to embrace the idea that sharing is fun.

Sharing is more than exchanging objects

In addition to exchanging and sharing objects, you can also share time with a story or the attention of an adult. Adding the word share to the vocabulary whenever possible in these circumstances is very useful for the child to integrate it into their daily way of acting.

Sharing is more than exchanging things

In addition to exchanging and sharing things, you can also share time with a story or an activity. Add the word share to the vocabulary Whenever possible in these circumstances, it is very useful for the child to integrate it into their daily behavior.

Teaching children to share is important

Learning to share can be challenging for young children. But it is a challenge that must be faced and overcome. It is an important skill they need to play and benefit from interaction with other children.

But not all children learn this skill. You probably know co-workers, friends or relatives who, even as adults, have not acquired skills to share. And these adults are difficult to deal with. Sometimes you don’t even like to be around them. Acquiring this skill as an adult is nearly impossible, making it even more important that the skill is acquired during childhood. So don’t underestimate the importance of teaching children to share, especially if it’s your children.

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