Things You'll Need:
- Friends and Family
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Step 1
Teach by example. Ask a friend or family member to do some play-acting with you to teach your child that sharing is fun. Show them what sharing actually means and that playing can be a lot more enjoyable when people share their toys. A great toy to teach sharing with is a ball. Throw or roll the ball back and forth to show your child it’s more fun when someone else plays ball with him or her. Laugh and act like you are having more fun after the other person joins in to really make the point that sharing is good.
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Step 2
Mention any instances of sharing that occur between you and others to draw your child’s attention to what is happening. If someone lends you a pen or shares a piece of fruit with you, actually say, “Thank you for sharing with me,” so the child understands. If they see sharing as an everyday occurrence, they’ll come to do it more naturally.
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Step 3
Point out when your child’s favorite television personalities share. Children love to mimic their favorite actors, so showing them how much fun the characters are having while they share will go a long way in helping your child understand the value in sharing.
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Step 4
Turn playtime into a learning experience. When your child wants to play, ask to share a toy. If the child doesn’t want to share and throws a fit, do not play with them. Explain that you will play with them when they are willing to share their toys. Be consistent with this practice and your child will learn he has to share in order to have people play with him. It is not mean to refuse to play during times the child refuses to share toys. To teach a child to share he has to learn it’s a good thing and that it makes his life better. A child is more likely to learn something when it has a tangible benefit for him.
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Step 5
Enlist older children to help teach younger ones to share. Children love playing with older brothers and sisters. If the older kids make sharing a fun experience, the younger ones are more likely to enjoy it also. Younger children love doing the same things as older ones, so this is a great way to teach your child the value of sharing.
