5 Tips For Teaching Your Child To Share
Does your child struggle to share his toys with other kids? If so, it might make you pretty frustrated. However, it is a pretty normal part of early childhood and your little one will likely grow out of it. Here are five helpful tips for teaching your child to share.
Set a Good Example
Since children often follow what their parents do, it is very important to set a good example. If your little one sees you sharing often, he may be more likely to share his toys with his friends. For example, let your child see you give a piece of your bread to your spouse at the dinner table.
Provide Opportunities to Share
If you want your child to learn how to take turns, you have to provide opportunities for sharing. For instance, you could set up play dates with other kids in the neighborhood a few times a month. Before the kids come over to your house, tell your child that sharing his toys with his friends would be a nice gesture.
Explain to Your Child That He Can Keep His Toys
Some children are hesitant to share their toys because they think they have to give them up permanently. Explain to your little one that sharing is only temporary. You could say something like this, "Once the other child has gotten a chance to play with your toy, you will get it back right away."
Avoid Punishing Your Child
If your child refuses to share his toy with another kid, you should avoid punishment. Telling your child that he can't play with his friends or watch television until he learns to share will not do any good. Instead, explain how sharing his toy would make another child very happy. For example, you can say, "I know you like that toy, but sharing it with your friend would make him feel happy."
Praise Your Child for His Efforts
When you see your child share something of his with another kid, do not forget to praise him for his efforts. Tell him how proud you are of him and that sharing his toy probably made the other child feel good.
If you follow these helpful tips, you can teach your child to share with other children, like those at a daycare like Kaye Kare Child Care Center. If he does not catch on right away, do not get upset. Some children take longer than others to learn how to share.
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