It’s a word that has become the social mantra for parents of preschoolers: Share! We are all desperate for our children to share. Sharing is vital. The future of the world depends upon our children’s spirit of generosity. We fear that if we don’t remind our children to share, they might become selfish outcasts. Or, we worry that we will be judged as indulgent, inconsiderate parents.
The truth is that preschoolers don’t yet understand the concept of sharing. A more concrete concept for young children is “taking turns”. We also promote playing together, and trading toys with the children. These phrases are recommended by the formal social skills curriculum we use with the kids aged 4-5, it’s called Second Step. However, we think they are good phrases to use with younger children too.
Read the full issue: