Sharing Basics
Model Sharing
Model this positive behavior yourself by sharing your food, belongings and feelings with your child, friends, spouse and any other children. To make the most impact, Buck suggested you "tell the child what you are doing and why you are doing it."
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Praise Them
"If your child shares, make sure you acknowledge this in a positive way," said Jennifer Weberman, Psy.D., a psychologist, parent coach and founder of the website Parenting Playground. She advised focusing on the trait your child's building. For example, try "What a big heart you have!" or "That took a lot of patience."
Read Stories About Sharing
Read lighthearted children's books that focus on sharing, advised Buck. You can also make up your own stories or share examples of sharing you've encountered. Afterward, discuss how the characters may have felt about sharing and how that made their lives better.
Teach Empathy
An effective way to encourage your child to share is by teaching her empathy. This helps your child understand that other people have feelings, too. Once your child can empathize with others, she will be more likely to take others' feelings into consideration and thus be more likely to share.
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Point Out Sharing
Be aware of situations that show off sharing to good effect and discuss those with your child right at that moment. "Take note when others around you are sharing and point it out to your little one to show them that this is a quality you admire," advised Weberman. You can also point out when someone isn't sharing and ask your child what could have been done instead.
Resolve an Issue
If you notice your child is arguing with another child over an object, use the opportunity to teach your child how to resolve the problem by sharing. For example, Buck said to encourage "taking turns, playing with the toy together or finding another toy of equal value."
