Teaching Preschoolers To Share
One of the important social skills that preschoolers have to learn is sharing. Does this scenario or similar to this often happen in most families?
“You can’t have it!” your preschooler shouts as he grabs his toy truck from his playmate. No sooner have you smoothed out that squabble than another erupts. “No!” he yells as his visitor heads toward his rock collection.
If parents can successfully teach their preschoolers to share, not only do their families enjoy harmony and peace, the preschooler himself/herself will be happier. Karen Miles posted an article over at BabyCenter giving parents some tips, starting with this one:
Make sharing fun. Teach your preschooler cooperative games in which players work together toward a common goal. Do puzzles together, taking turns adding pieces, for instance. Share projects, too: Plant the garden, paint the fence, or hose down the car with him. Finally, give him things to share with his buddies now and then, like a special snack for preschool or a roll of stickers to divvy up during a playdate.
Do you think these tips will work? What methods do you use to teach your child to share? I think teaching preschoolers to share is a process. Consistently use your way, he/she will eventually get there.
How to teach your preschooler to share [BabyCenter.com]
May 5th, 2006 at 5:52 am
I think this one is just a matter on practice makes perfect. Toddlers and preschoolers won’t get it at first, but with LOTS of practice, enncouragement and praise they will get there in the end!
May 5th, 2006 at 9:17 am
I agree, Lisa. LOTS of practice and encouragement will do. I usually helped my children feel sharing is rewarding. When they shared a piece of cookie, I gave them two. When they shared any toy with other children, I’d give them prasie and other things they liked. Gradually, they liked sharing themselves, and didn’t need any external rewarding to reinforce.