Games to Help Toddlers Share

Kids who know how to share understand the importance of including others.

Teaching young children to share is a difficult task as the concept is foreign to toddlers. The thought of giving something to someone else, to a toddler, means that the item or object is now gone forever. Sharing games can be used to encourage sharing by showing kids the benefits associated with sharing, such as making others feel good and how sharing makes everyone feel included.

Ice Cream Sundae Game

One way to teach sharing is to let toddlers know that when you share, you both give and receive. One game involves all children being given a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Each child is given a small bowl of toppings, with each child having something different. Sharing occurs when kids swap toppings for other goodies. For example, if one child with chocolate chips shares with a child who has sprinkles, both kids get double toppings on their ice cream.

Look at My Favorite Toy

Favorite toys, such as stuffed animals or games, are prized possessions for many toddlers. To get kids involved in a sharing game, have every child bring a favorite toy to share with the class. The teacher, parent or instructor should bring something along as well. Have the kids sit in a circle and start with the teacher who passes the object around to each kid. Repeating the process so all kids get a chance to share their beloved item with everyone shows how others take interest in things and how the toy made its way back to the child and was not lost.

Snack Time

A simple game to play during snack time is to divide children into two groups. One group is given enough beverages for the entire group while the other group is given snacks for everyone. The sharing part comes in to play when children are told that if the drink group shares with the snack group, everyone gets both a drink and a snack.

Helping Others

Discuss with toddlers how not every child is fortunate enough to have toys, food and clothing. Use simple and non-scary terminology to discuss the needs of the less fortunate. Explain to the children that the group will be gathering toys and clothing to donate to a shelter or hospital where children without reside. This encourages kids to share and also teaches them the good feeling associated with others.

References

• National Network for Child Care: Learning to Share
• Scholastic: Ages & Stages: Sharing
• Learning to Give: Giving and Sharing Activities by Grade Level
• Clever Toddler Activities: Sharing Games