Teaching a baby to share can seem like a challenging task, especially since young children naturally view everything as “mine.” However, with patience, empathy, and some tried-and-true techniques, you can help your child develop this crucial social skill. Sharing not only enhances their ability to form friendships but also builds a foundation of kindness, empathy, and cooperation. Here’s a guide to making sharing a natural part of your child’s world.
Understanding Your Audience
Most of our readers are likely new or expectant parents and caregivers who are navigating the early stages of parenting. They may have children between 0-3 years old and are interested in fostering social and emotional growth in their babies. By understanding these dynamics, we can tailor the advice to address common concerns about age-appropriate sharing techniques and related developmental milestones.
Why Teaching Sharing is Important
Sharing teaches your baby several core values:
- Empathy: Recognizing and understanding other people’s needs.
- Fairness: Learning that everyone deserves a turn.
- Teamwork: Developing cooperative skills that will help them thrive in social settings.
Remember, though, that sharing doesn’t come naturally to babies and toddlers. Around age one, babies start to become aware of the world outside themselves, but they’re still far from understanding that others have needs and desires. Between 18 months to three years old, they begin to understand concepts of ownership and sharing, though these ideas are still difficult for them to fully grasp.
Developmental Milestones and Sharing
Here’s a general timeline of when you can expect certain behaviors related to sharing:
- 0-1 Year: At this stage, babies are primarily focused on their own needs. Sharing is not something they understand or are capable of yet. Focus on building a secure attachment by responding to their needs.
- 1-2 Years: Your child may start to recognize others around them and be more social. You can introduce basic concepts of sharing through play.
- 2-3 Years: Toddlers can begin to understand simple social rules, like taking turns. You may see more success in teaching sharing, though they’ll still have trouble with it.
Each child develops at their own pace, so don’t worry if your child isn’t a “pro” at sharing right away. Early social skills come with time and gentle guidance.
Effective Techniques to Teach Sharing
1. Lead by Example
Children learn a lot from watching the adults in their lives. If you openly share with others, your child will start to mimic this behavior. For instance, offer to share a snack with your child or let them help you with simple tasks.
Actionable Tip: Narrate what you’re doing. Say something like, “Mommy is sharing her apple with Daddy. Isn’t that nice?”
2. Use Play to Teach Sharing
Playtime is the perfect opportunity to teach sharing in a relaxed, pressure-free environment. Playing with blocks, puzzles, or crayons gives you a chance to introduce the concept of “taking turns” and “sharing.”
Game Idea: Build a tower of blocks together and say, “It’s your turn to add a block, now it’s my turn.” This reinforces the idea of turn-taking.
3. Practice Turn-Taking
Turn-taking is a precursor to sharing because it teaches children to wait for their turn. This skill is essential for understanding that others also have needs and desires.
Example: If your child is playing with a toy that another child wants, you can say, “Let’s play with this toy for a little while, and then it will be Sarah’s turn.” This introduces the idea of sharing without forcing immediate action.
4. Praise Generous Behavior
Positive reinforcement is a powerful motivator for young children. Praise them whenever they make an effort to share, even if it’s just offering a toy for a brief moment.
Phrase to Use: “Thank you for sharing your toy with your friend! That was very kind of you.”
Praising them helps them feel good about sharing and increases the likelihood that they’ll want to do it again.
Handling Challenges
1. Avoid Forced Sharing
Forced sharing can lead to resentment and may backfire, making your child even more possessive. Instead, encourage sharing by emphasizing that toys can be enjoyed by everyone. Respect when they aren’t ready to share, and suggest alternatives.
Alternative: If your child is resistant to sharing a specific toy, bring out another item that the other child can play with.
2. Teach Empathy Through Storytelling
Reading books or telling stories about characters who share or experience sharing struggles can help your child understand this concept in a relatable way.
Book Suggestion: “Should I Share My Ice Cream?” by Mo Willems is a great book that shows characters learning about sharing and friendship.
Make Sharing Fun!
Children are more likely to share when it’s enjoyable. Use interactive activities to make sharing a natural part of their world.
1. Bake Together
Baking a batch of cookies or another treat and then giving them to family or friends can show your child the joy of giving and sharing.
2. Create Sharing Activities in Playdates
If your child has playdates, you can use that time to gently reinforce sharing in a fun way. Games that involve taking turns, like rolling a ball back and forth or playing with a large puzzle, can make sharing feel like a game.
Key Takeaways for Parents and Caregivers
As a parent, here are some important things to remember as you embark on teaching your child to share:
- Be Patient: Sharing is a skill that takes time to learn. Don’t expect immediate results; keep reinforcing it with gentle encouragement.
- Encourage but Don’t Force: Children will learn sharing best when they feel safe and respected. Avoid making them share when they’re not ready, and instead, encourage them to share when possible.
- Model Generosity: Showing your child what sharing looks like will help them understand it better.
- Praise and Celebrate: Whenever your child makes an effort to share, celebrate their behavior to reinforce their efforts.
Recommended Products to Encourage Sharing
Here are some toys and products that encourage cooperative play and sharing:
- Building Blocks: Great for teaching children to take turns adding blocks to a shared structure.
- Play Kitchen Sets: Help children learn to “share” pretend food, fostering social interactions.
- Board Games for Toddlers: Games that involve taking turns can reinforce the idea of sharing in a fun and interactive way.
(Disclosure: Some of these links may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you purchase through them. We only recommend products we genuinely feel would benefit our readers.)
Conclusion
Teaching your baby to share is a process that unfolds over time. With patience, creativity, and gentle guidance, your child will develop the social skills they need to enjoy positive interactions with others. Remember, sharing doesn’t come naturally, but by making it a part of their world in small, consistent ways, you’re helping them grow into compassionate, thoughtful individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: When should I start teaching my baby to share?
A1: You can begin to model sharing from an early age, but around 18 months to 2 years is when children typically start to grasp basic social rules like sharing.
Q2: What if my child refuses to share?
A2: Respect their boundaries, encourage them to share in other ways, and offer plenty of praise when they do share, even if it’s for a short time.
Q3: How can I encourage sharing without forcing it?
A3: Use turn-taking activities, read stories about sharing, and model sharing in your interactions. Let them see that sharing is part of social interaction, but avoid making them feel pressured.
By creating a compassionate and fun approach, teaching your baby to share will not only be an effective lesson but also a bonding experience for both of you.