It is very easy for a kid to be selfish if not taught the essence of sharing. Kids who share can play cooperatively. It is also a skill that teaches kids that if they share with others, there is a possibility of getting what they don’t have from their fellow kids — it can be toys, or something to eat. Kids are able to show love and care to the people around them through sharing. Here are a few steps to help teach the little ones about sharing;

Give compliments and praise. Imagine your kid getting a piece of cake and sharing with someone, it is quite remarkable, right? Appreciate them; tell them that their act was kind, as this is how they will keep on doing it.

Train your child. In the first place, a child needs to know what sharing means and why it is important to give some of what they have with others.

Don’t punish kids if they don’t share. At times, children feel everything belongs to them. It might be a process, but just teach them what to do. It is, however, important to be the example they learn from. Sharing is a skill like others, which is learned as children’s social, emotional and cognitive development increases.

Start at a young age. Play games with the child using any object as you allow them to give it to you, and also give it back to them. It might be a game, but you are planting a seed of sharing.

Don’t force sharing. Forcing children to share can delay the development of sharing skills. Alternatively, introduce the concept of taking turns, this can be through lending a toy to a friend for about 30 minutes and then asking a friend to return it to them.

Put special items away. It might be hard for a child to share something they love most, you can ask them to keep it, for example, their favourite toys. Let them share the ones that they don’t fancy much. It works for kindergarten kids.

Allow kids to play with other children. Children who usually play alone or don’t associate with others often find it hard to give. Allowing them to associate with others would open their eyes to kind acts like sharing and others.

Children give if they are given. Children who have been on the receiving end of kindness follow the model they have been given and become generous persons themselves. Also, a child who feels right is more likely to share. Ask them if they would want to join you to watch cartoons, share a seat, or ask if they are interested in sharing your banana with them. This is something they will copy.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com