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One evening, your toddler takes her doll to the park. Soon, one or more kids approach your toddler, wanting to play with her doll. Your toddler refuses. The conversation between you and your child shifts from “Please share your toy” to “You need to share your toy with others,” becoming slightly tense.
Sharing can be seen as a form of caring. My child wanted to play with an older girl who had some sand toys, and was taught the phrase “Sharing is caring”. However, when she noticed that some kids didn’t share back, she stopped sharing with them.
Some suggest not forcing kids to share, as it might make the parent seem nagging, leading them to develop negative attitudes. If kids are forced to share, they might become more reluctant to share.
Humans are naturally possessive. Just like adults, children might not want to share their toys or belongings. They might share later when they’re ready, but not when forced.
If a child is in the middle of an activity like building a block castle, and another child demands to share the blocks, the interrupting child should wait. Forcing sharing in the middle of an activity disrupts their imagination.
Sometimes let your child set the rules, especially when playing with peers. This fosters independence.
Sharing should be a personal choice and pressuring kids to share everything can make them timid and unable to stand up for themselves. Teach them the virtue of sacrifice but also to stand up for themselves.
Kids learn through practical lessons. If a child doesn’t listen, let them experience the consequences. For example, if they refuse to share and a friend leaves upset, they learn from that experience.
Teach your child to say ‘no’ firmly but politely. This is a valuable skill.
Your child should be cooperative, not rebellious. Teach them to say no in different ways, like “Not now, maybe later”.
Just as other kids shouldn’t interrupt your child’s play, your child shouldn’t intrude on others. Learning to accept this helps them become responsible adults.
In conclusion, sharing isn’t always caring. Let your child grow up to be independent yet caring, fair without unnecessary sacrifice, and loving while having their own voice. Happy sharing (or not)!
