As kids grow and develop a sense of self, it’s common for them to experience difficulty sharing with others at home and during preschool activities. Although this is a normal part of early childhood development, it’s wise to encourage your little one to learn to share as a healthy, everyday habit. Here are a few ways you can help them.

3 Tips for Teaching Kids to Share

1. Explain Sharing

It’s important to first explain to your child what exactly sharing means. If a child hasn’t grasped this concept, they can’t be expected to make a habit of it. Using simple terms and examples, define sharing for your little one, taking care to explain that it doesn’t mean that the person they’re sharing with gets to keep an item forever. You can also explain how they can benefit from sharing with friends and peers during preschool activities.

2. Set a Good Example

As with most concepts, kids model their thinking and behavior on that of the adults around them. For parents, that means sharing with their children and with other adults to set a positive example. You can share personal belongings with your kids to help them understand what it means and call attention to the fact when your spouse, partner, or other adults share with you.

3. Don’t Force Them

Perhaps the most counterproductive thing a parent can do while teaching their child is forcing them to comply. Sharing is no exception, as requiring a child to share could create a negative association with it in their minds which can be difficult to unlearn. You can get an idea of what your child needs help with by observing them during preschool activities or at play. If they’re constantly demanding toys from other kids, you can encourage them to find other activities. If they have difficulty refusing others, you can teach them how to say “no” and to establish firm boundaries.

Give your little ones plenty of opportunities for growth and learning in a welcoming environment at Mendon Child Care Center in New York. These specialists in early childhood development combine fun preschool activities with education in order to help kids develop the interpersonal skills they’ll need all their lives. To learn more about their programs for kids from infancy through grade school, call (585) 624-2337 or visit them online.