Our sharing game is super simple and works really well. My boys love all the same things, especially if the other brother is playing with it. So we have to practice sharing.
The way the sharing game works best is if it’s just you and your little one without friends or sibling for the first several times. Simply explain sharing and pick a favorite toy of your toddlers to have them share with you. The first few times you go through the asking nicely and gently encouraging (with help if needed) sharing a toy. Heap on tons of praise and giggles and high fives for sharing.
Practice 2-3 times a week for 5-10 minutes at a time with 2-3 year olds, for 3-4 year olds you can practice more often but try not to go more than 15 minutes at a time. For the 3-4 year olds who are more mature and have a much better understanding of the concept, after 3 unsuccessful attempts to get them to share the toy in question, the toy magically disappears until the next day.
After your younger tot has begun to understand sharing toys, if you want you can do the same thing with food, change, candy, etc. Anything you want your child to be OK parting with you can incorporate into this game. Always remember to praise and have fun with your toddler. Not a single one of us wants to share (or shares successfully) all the time, even us grown ups, so don’t expect perfection from your tots.
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Some of our favorite sharing stories are:
Sharing Time is another great Toddler Tools book. It is for ages 2-3 so it is really simple and easy to understand and explain.
All the Llama Llama books are wonderful. The rhymes make it fun for your kiddos to hear over and over and the pictures are great. In Learns to Share Llama’s mama takes away a toy Llama won’t share until Llama is ready to share. It’s is an excellent companion to the sharing game.
What are some sharing stories you and your child love?
Check out all 10 Days of Toddler Manners posts here.
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