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An important skill for your child to practise as they start nursery and school is sharing.
Taking turns with toys and other objects during play will help your child to develop the social skills that will help them thrive in a new environment.
Watch the video below for advice on how you can support your children's sharing skills with fun activities at home.
PARENT: I've got the paper ready, I'm going to need some help sticking the paper onto the table first. Can you help me?
CHILD: Yeah!
PARENT: Yeah, I'm gonna need your muscles.
DRAW A TREE AND ASK THEM TO HELP MAKE THE LEAVES
PARENT: What are you drawing? Do you want some more sellotape?
CHILD: Yeah!
PARENT: Big tree!
ENCOURAGE THEM TO PLAY AND SHARE TOGETHER
PARENT: Well done! That's very kind sharing. Thank you. Say thank you! Do you want some more glue?
PARENT: Can you say, 'glue, please'?
CHILD: Glue, please.
SHARING A TASK CAN ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE TURNS AND WORK TOGETHER.
Why can children struggle with sharing?
Generally, children are able to take turns and share by 2 ½ years old, but it might be a while before they regularly choose to do so without getting angry or upset.
This is because, before all of that, at around 16 months, they learn that some things are 'mine' (and that some things aren't).
However, with a little patience, there are ways you can encourage your child to share.
How to encourage your child to share
Like the families in the film above, you might set up some fun creative 'tasks' for your child and their siblings or friends to complete at home. Perhaps drawing a tree and decorating it!
As the children use colouring pencils, glue or other items together, you can help them to take turns by…
Encouraging them in their task
Using words like 'share' and 'fair'
Model how you share an item you're using
