Undoubtedly sharing is an essential skill for the social, cognitive, and emotional development of a child. But naturally, preschoolers don’t understand the idea of sharing. Generally, children comprehend the concept of sharing at the age of three. Although the most basic sharing skills are developed in the preschool years, the positive effects on communication and socialization can extend long into the future. Are you still confused about how to teach your kid sharing? Check here for the basic tips.
Advantages of learning and practicing sharing for children
Nancy Bruski, author of The Insightful Teacher says that sharing may be very tough for young children. But we all know that children must learn to share to make and keep friends. Besides, learning and sharing are essential for children to play cooperatively, take turns, negotiate and cope with disappointment. Moreover, it is sharing which teaches children about agreement and civility.
Sharing is one of the supreme parts of getting along with others. It becomes more important and essential when your child starts having playdates. Moreover, it is crucial when your child starts going to child care or preschool.
Young children need to learn how to cooperate in the use of classroom materials like toys, materials, ideas for play, or being first in line.
However, sharing is challenging and some children learn it slowly but it’s one that all children need to understand they need to overcome in order to share.
10 effective ways to encourage your child for practicing sharing
Children love to imitate and they imitate their parents most. If you model good sharing and turn-taking in your family, it becomes a great example for your children to follow.
Remember, children need opportunities to learn about and practice sharing. Some ways check below to encourage sharing in everyday life:
Sharing ‘rules’
Talk about the difference between home and preschool using a set of classroom ‘rules’ that are simple and easy to understand. You can focus on features of sharing such as asking for things, taking turns, and helping each other. Let your children know that sharing is an important part of being in an environment with peers.
Discussing the value of sharing
Your child may be too young to understand the value of sharing. What you can do is highlighting the good points of sharing. Tell your child that if he or she shares their toys with friends, everyone gets to have fun. If you highlight good sharing in others, your child is more likely to follow their example. You can encourage your kid to read books or watch videos regarding the good parts of sharing.
Modeling
Put a model example pointing out good sharing in others. You can say something like- ‘ your friend was sharing his toys really well. He likes to share all his toys and lovely things with his friends. This will inspire your kid also to share his things with others.
encourage children practice sharing
Ways to encourage children practice sharing (Representational Image: Collected)
Besides, influence your child to adopt sharing behaviors by modeling them yourself with other teachers, staff members, and parents. When your kid sees you engaging in interactions with other adults that revolve around sharing, like offering food or classroom supplies, he will also follow those.
Positive Feedback
Never forget to acknowledge and praise or reward them immediately when you see a child practicing a sharing behavior. This positive feedback and praise will help kids embody perfect sharing behavior. This will of course increase their self-efficacy. Suppose your child is playing with his friend in the garden and sharing and taking turns with all his toys with his friend praise him saying- bravo! Great sharing!
Playing games
You can play games that involve sharing and turn-taking to encourage your kid to learn to share as children love to learn through playing. Teach your kid through the steps. Let’s see an example- your kid is playing with different colors of cars and you can engage yourself with it and ask your kid that you will give me the red one and I will give you the blue one. If you play with him, he will enjoy it and learn how to share with friends while playing.
Sharing activities
Make sure you talk with your child about sharing activities before playdates with other children. You can say ‘When your friends come to our house on the occasion of your birthday, you’ll need to share some of your toys with them. Besides, you need to teach your kids how to share family belongings and food with siblings. Remember, you need to talk with your child about sharing before they start child care or preschool.
Timed sharing
Tell your child that sharing involves taking turns and respecting each other. So, set a timer for use of toys, games, and supplies. Make sure that each child can take turns for equal durations of time and everyone who wants a turn gets to play. This will help kids to become used to the timer and its purpose.
Get connected
Try to get connected with your child at least until they reach 2 years old. Research has shown that children who have been connected with parents for the first 2 years, learn sympathy, empathy, sharing, and other good characteristics like these.
Don’t force a child to share
Don’t force your kid to share. Instead of this, you can create attitudes and an environment that encourages your child to want to share. Children love their possessions. Their toys are only toys to you but to a child, they’re a valuable collection that has taken years to assemble. So, make sure you respect the normal possessiveness of children.
Give your child opportunities to share
Create a situation so that you teach your kid to learn to share. You need to create opportunities to learn to share. Suppose, you give a bar of whole chocolate to your kid and ask him to give half to his friend or cousin or siblings standing beside him. Convince him that you have no extra one to give them and he needs to right share. In that situation, your kid must share with his friends or cousin.
Bottom Line
Sharing is caring. It helps a child to grow up as a sympthatic and helping minded adult. So far, we have discussed why is it necessary for children to learn the value of sharing. Hope our suggested practical and effective tips will help you to teach young kids to practice sharing.
Source: United News of Bangladesh