Children learn to share things as they mature. they learn from their surroundings. Help the child to learn sharing. Here are some ways to teach children how to share things and be better humans as they grow up. In this articleShockingly selfishSharing is not instinctiveTips on teaching your child to shareShockingly selfish Swapna Anand was mortified by her two-year-old daughters behaviour when she took her to play with a friends child. She says, "Initially, the two children were just playing side by side without really interacting. Then my friends daughter began to play with my daughters toy telephone and all hell broke loose. My daughter started screaming till she was red in the face. Then there was a tug-of-war between the two children for the toy and I just didnt know what to do. To make matters worse, my daughter insisted on taking one of the other childs colouring books when we went home." The above incident is one that almost every parent experiences with their children. Yet, they cant help but wonder at their childrens selfishness and entertain doubts if they will grow out of this type of behaviour. Parents have a tendency to evaluate childrens behaviour from a lofty adult viewpoint. However, if they questioned their own parents they are bound to find similar selfish incidents in their own past. Sharing is not instinctive The fact is that children are not born with an innate sharing instinct. Very young children have not developed the ability to view the world and the things in it from anyone elses point of view other than their own. There is no specific age when children magically become unselfish and willing to share. Sharing is something that develops with maturity and every child matures at his or her own pace. However, the right environmental influences can give them a nudge in the right direction. Children learn to share more quickly in a household where adults give and take and exhibit cooperative behaviour. Some children take longer to share than others because they have the kind of temperament that is resistant to change. Tips on teaching your child to share Do not make your child feel like she has a character flaw by labelling her as selfish and warning her that her behaviour will result in her having no friends. Accept the fact that there are some things that your child will just not be willing to share. In such a case, when you invite other children over to play, help her identify those toys that fall into the hands off category and put them away before the other children arrive. In this way, you can pre-empt skirmishes over toys. Your child must be aware that just as she is possessive about her things, she must learn to respect others possessions too. Lay down some ground rules at the start. For instance, tell her that she will only be allowed to invite other children over if she shares her toys. Or, you can tell her that she will have to share the new video game with her brother or forfeit playing with it at all. Create situations at home where your child will have no alternative but to share. For instance, if another child has come over give them one set of crayons between the two of them. Show your child that you can share too. If your child is having a hard time sharing, you may need to supervise her playtime and encourage her to share. Praise your child every time she shares or makes an unselfish gesture.
Children learn to share things as they mature. they learn from their surroundings. Help the child to learn sharing. Here are some ways to teach children how to share things and be better humans as they grow up.
Swapna Anand was mortified by her two-year-old daughter's behaviour when she took her to play with a friend's child. She says, "Initially, the two children were just playing side by side without really interacting. Then my friend's daughter began to play with my daughter's toy telephone and all hell broke loose. My daughter started screaming till she was red in the face. Then there was a tug-of-war between the two children for the toy and I just didn't know what to do. To make matters worse, my daughter insisted on taking one of the other child's colouring books when we went home."
The above incident is one that almost every parent experiences with their children. Yet, they can't help but wonder at their children's selfishness and entertain doubts if they will grow out of this type of behaviour. Parents have a tendency to evaluate children's behaviour from a lofty adult viewpoint. However, if they questioned their own parents they are bound to find similar selfish incidents in their own past.
Sharing is not instinctive
The fact is that children are not born with an innate sharing instinct. Very young children have not developed the ability to view the world and the things in it from anyone else's point of view other than their own. There is no specific age when children magically become unselfish and willing to share. Sharing is something that develops with maturity and every child matures at his or her own pace. However, the right environmental influences can give them a nudge in the right direction. Children learn to share more quickly in a household where adults give and take and exhibit cooperative behaviour. Some children take longer to share than others because they have the kind of temperament that is resistant to change.
Tips on teaching your child to share
Do not make your child feel like she has a character flaw by labelling her as selfish and warning her that her behaviour will result in her having no friends.
Accept the fact that there are some things that your child will just not be willing to share. In such a case, when you invite other children over to play, help her identify those toys that fall into the 'hands off' category and put them away before the other children arrive. In this way, you can pre-empt skirmishes over toys.
Your child must be aware that just as she is possessive about her things, she must learn to respect other's possessions too.
Lay down some ground rules at the start. For instance, tell her that she will only be allowed to invite other children over if she shares her toys. Or, you can tell her that she will have to share the new video game with her brother or forfeit playing with it at all.
Create situations at home where your child will have no alternative but to share. For instance, if another child has come over give them one set of crayons between the two of them.
Show your child that you can share too.
If your child is having a hard time sharing, you may need to supervise her playtime and encourage her to share.
Praise your child every time she shares or makes an unselfish gesture.
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Make your children understand that sharing their toys or things will bring happiness and joy to others. My child is studying 2nd standard in Orchids International School and he has the very good habit of sharing his snacks or chocolates with his friends at school even when someone visits our home.
Hi, it was a good article.. but my problem is the opposite one.. my son, who is 4-1/2, has tendency to share his things and even he goes overboard to help others. On the contrary, his cousin, who lives downstairs and of exactly same age, is overpossessive. She does not share her things and even hits my son for that, but will surely and certainly use my son's goods. How should I handle this situation. Coz many a times my son, who is too sensetive, gets hurt and even starts crying.
Good article. Sharing is one of the good virtues which parents can help their children to imbibe. It is important to teach such small small things as it helps in building good character of child.
I liked the tips given in this article. It will definitely help parents to teach their children to share and care for others. However, if child is not ready to share anything, parents should not force them.
I agree with Medha...Parents should teach children to share right from the childhood. In fact children learn to share from their parents. Therefore, it is important for parents to teach by example.
Children learn sharing as they grow. Never force them to give something they like to other children. It makes them very sad. Give them time, and they will come around.
