Learning to Share

National Friendship Day occurs every year the first Sunday in August. It celebrates the importance of loving, platonic relationships and encourages people around the world to connect with friends, make new friends and reconnect with old friends.

Learning how to make and keep friends is an important skill for children to learn. It's one they will develop and refine their whole lives.

One way parents, grandparents and educators can assist children in developing the social skills necessary to make friends is in helping them learn how to share. How many times have you heard a child say, "It's Mine!" and not be willing to share a toy with another child or even let a parent or grandparent look at it! Children who never learned to share, or wait their turn, become adults who have difficulty working in a Team environment where they have to readily share ideas and information and listen to other colleagues.

Sharing has a lot to do with trust. Children need to feel that they can share a confidence or fear with a parent, grandparent, educator or friend without being betrayed. They need to feel that they can share a possession and trust that it will be returned in the same condition. They need to be able to manage their emotions to be able to share.

Children can begin to learn the skill of sharing at a young age. Coloring together is a great way to teach sharing since you are sharing crayons. It's important to let children know that they are sharing and commend them on their ability to do it and even wait for a particular crayon.

Make the word share part of your family or classroom vocabulary. Say things like: "It's so much fun sharing lunch together." "I have something I want to share with you." "Why don't you share that story with others." "I'd like to share this book with you."

These are only two ways to help children learn sharing. There is a scene about sharing in the "Don't Be That KID! At Home" book. Reading and discussing the scene is a wonderful opportunity to begin the dialogue about sharing. If you would like to discuss other ways to introduce sharing with your children, grandchildren and students no matter what their age, just contact me. I'll be happy to SHARE them with you!