NANA SAYS CHILDREN NEED TO LEARN TO SHARE

Sharing is a difficult concept at all ages. The word mine is learnt shortly after the word No for little children. We all have our things or want the things to be "mine". Sometimes as adults we expect little children to be better behaved about sharing than the average adult. By teaching children to share, we also must be willing to share our things, our favourite spot on the couch, our favourite mug or do we? We can share a bag of cookies- everyone gets two, okay maybe three! Children must share their parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles.Is it reasonable to expect an older child to share age appropriate toys with a younger sibling? Sharing love is hard! There is sometimes a need to be the favourite! When there is only one of anything, like the wagon at my house sharing is a must! However, I want my grandchildren to have fun, play and honestly the less fighting the better- done that, been there! So some solutions! Each child gets their own spot at the kitchen table with their plate, cup, etc. For example, for the longest time, one grandson played with the little plastic wheelbarrow I have in the house. But this year everyone-all 4 want to play with the one wheelbarrow! Do I teach them to share so every time the whole gang is here they are fighting over a plastic wheelbarrow? No, I scoured many stores and finally found 3 more wheelbarrows, sets of plastic rakes, shovels and hoes! If they were here alone all the time, one would have been fine but often I have two or four at a time. Now outdoor play in the yard will be better and enjoyable for Nana. Each child will have a set of toys to perform their own creative play. Sharing the lunch platter of goodies will occur! Sharing the space! So learning to share as well as have some ownership can go hand in hand for little children, teens and adults! Do you have ideas of teaching children to share? Do you as an adult really like to share your things? What limits do you put on sharing in your home?