Sharing: why it’s hard, and how to practice it

“Mine!” It’s one of the first words many kids learn. Little ones are figuring out what belongs to them, and that’s an important part of growing up. Sharing comes later, and it takes practice.

It’s normal to find it hard

For a two-year-old, the thought of giving their car to someone else is really hard, even if it’s just for a moment. They don’t quite understand yet that they’ll get it back.

Taking turns before sharing

“You have the car until the sand timer runs out, then it’s your friend’s turn.” Taking turns is easier to understand than sharing, because your child knows they’ll get the thing back.

Some things can be special

Let your child put away one or two things before friends come over. It’s okay if the teddy bear doesn’t get shared. The rest of the toys are for everyone.

Say what sharing does

“Look how happy your friend was when you gave them a block.” It helps your child connect sharing with something good.

Share yourself

“Do you want to taste my apple?” Share your things with your child, and say it out loud. That way sharing becomes a natural part of everyday life.

Games that practice sharing

• Build a tower together, with each person adding a block in turn.
• Draw one picture together with the same crayons.
• Play a memory game where you wait your turn.

From My Mini Mindset

Want to bring these words into everyday life? Here are materials with your child’s name and a figure that looks like your child:

• The mini book “… shares”
• Memory game