Kids Sharing: 7 Effective Ways to Encourage Cooperation and Kindness

Why Is Sharing Important for a Child?

• Encourages Social Bonds

• • Sharing allows children to connect with peers and form friendships based on trust and cooperation.
  • It helps children feel included in group settings and reduces social isolation.

• Promotes Emotional Growth

• • When children share, they experience kindness, generosity, and patience in action.
  • It nurtures empathy, as they begin to recognize and respect the needs of others.

• Helps with Conflict Resolution

• • Learning to share can reduce tantrums and power struggles over toys or space.
  • Children begin to develop problem-solving skills by negotiating turns and making fair compromises.

The Benefits of Encouraging Kids Sharing Early

Introducing sharing at a young age can make a significant difference in a child’s ability to cooperate with others. Some key benefits include:

• Less frustration: When kids understand how to take turns, there are fewer disagreements.
• Greater adaptability: Children become more comfortable in different social environments.
• Increased generosity: Early exposure to sharing fosters a mindset of giving rather than possessing.
• Stronger emotional resilience: Learning to handle not always getting what they want builds patience and emotional strength.

By encouraging sharing early, caregivers help children develop essential life skills that extend well beyond the playground.

Not all children grasp sharing at the same pace, and that’s completely normal. Understanding a child’s developmental stage can help set realistic expectations and offer guidance on how to support kids sharing in a way that feels natural and encouraging.

Understanding Why Toddlers Struggle with Sharing

For many young children, sharing can feel challenging. When a toddler hesitates to share, it’s simply a reflection of their natural learning process as they explore independence and personal ownership.

Read more: Understanding Children’s Psychological Development

Why Is Sharing Difficult for Toddlers?

• Self-focused Thinking

• • In early childhood, kids see the world primarily from their own perspective.
  • They don’t yet fully understand that other children have feelings and desires, too.

• Strong Attachment to Belongings

• • Many toddlers form deep emotional connections with their toys or objects.
  • Letting go, even for a short time, can feel overwhelming or distressing.

• Developing Impulse Control

• • The part of the brain responsible for self-regulation and patience is still developing.
  • Even if a child understands sharing, they may struggle to follow through.

• Exploring Independence

• • Toddlers are learning about ownership and personal choice, making the idea of giving up an object difficult.
  • They often use phrases like “Mine!” as a way to assert control over their environment.

Understanding these factors can help caregivers respond with patience and encouragement, rather than frustration, when children hesitate to share.

Understanding Sharing Milestones: When Do Kids Understand Sharing

There is no exact age when children master sharing, but certain developmental milestones give insight into when this skill naturally emerges:

• 18–24 Months
  • At this stage, toddlers may offer a toy to a caregiver but still struggle to share with peers.
  • They need gentle reminders and positive reinforcement to encourage turn-taking.
• 2–3 Years Old
  • Kids start engaging in parallel play, meaning they play side by side rather than together.
  • While they may imitate sharing behaviors, they don’t yet fully grasp the concept.
• 3–4 Years Old
  • Children begin participating in cooperative play, where they interact more with peers.
  • They start taking turns and sharing when prompted but may still need guidance.
• 4–5 Years Old
  • Kids start to naturally share and show kindness toward others, especially in social settings.
  • They understand fairness better and are more willing to share when they see others doing the same.

Since every child develops at their own pace, these milestones can vary. Encouraging positive interactions, modeling generosity, and using age-appropriate techniques can make learning to share a smoother experience.

Kids sharing doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time, patience, and encouragement. While some children naturally develop this skill, others may need gentle guidance and everyday experiences to feel more comfortable. Supporting kids sharing through daily interactions and playful moments helps parents and caregivers build a positive foundation for this important social skill.

1. Modeling Generosity

Children learn best by observing the behavior of those around them. When they see parents, caregivers, or older siblings demonstrating generosity, they are more likely to imitate these actions.

How to Model Sharing for Kids

• Share with your child: Offer them a piece of your snack and say, “Sharing makes things more fun!”
• Demonstrate sharing with others: Let your child see you lend an item or offer something to a friend.
• Use everyday moments: On a rainy day, offer to share your umbrella and say, “I’m going to share my umbrella so we both stay dry.”
• Narrate your actions: Explain what you’re doing, e.g., “I’m letting Grandma borrow my book because sharing helps everyone.”
• Respect their belongings: Avoid removing objects from a child’s hands, as this can feel unsettling and send mixed messages. Instead, ask politely: “Can I have that when you’re finished?” This encourages them to share in a way that feels safe and voluntary.

When sharing becomes a normal part of daily life, children are more likely to embrace it naturally.

2. Introducing Turn-Taking

For young children, sharing can feel overwhelming. Turn-taking serves as an easier first step, helping kids learn patience and fairness.

Ways to Encourage Turn-Taking

• Use simple games

• • Play activities that involve alternating turns, like rolling a ball or stacking blocks together.
  • Use phrases like “Your turn, now my turn!” to reinforce the concept.

• Practice turn-taking during playdates

• • If a child struggles with sharing a toy, guide them by saying, “Let’s take turns with the train. You play first, then your friend gets a turn.”

• Choose games that promote sharing

• • Board games, puzzles, and group storytelling encourage children to cooperate and take turns naturally.

By making turn-taking part of playtime, children learn that sharing doesn’t mean losing something, it means enjoying it together.

3. Using Timers and Structured Play

If children find it difficult to share their favorite toys, using timers can help make the process fair and predictable.

How Timers Help with Sharing

• Set a clear time limit: Use a timer to define how long each child can play with an item before switching.
• Create a sense of fairness: Knowing they will get another turn reduces resistance to sharing.
• Use visual timers: A sand timer or digital countdown can help young children understand time more easily.

Structured Play Ideas for Sharing

• Art projects: Take turns using markers or stickers in a shared drawing.
• Building block challenges: Work together to create a tower by alternating pieces.
• Cooperative games: Activities like scavenger hunts or team puzzles encourage collaboration.

By incorporating structure and fairness, children feel more comfortable sharing in a way that feels safe and predictable.

4. Special Toys and Boundaries

Just like adults, children have belongings they may feel strongly attached to. Giving them the freedom to set boundaries can help reduce conflicts and make sharing easier.

How to Set Healthy Boundaries Around Sharing

• Put away special toys: Before a playdate, ask your child to set aside items they don’t want to share. This gives them control over their environment and prevents potential conflicts.
• Explain that personal items are okay: Let your child know that it’s normal to have favorite belongings, just like adults do.
• Encourage respect for others’ possessions: Reinforce that just as they have special items, their friends do, too.

By allowing children to have some control over their belongings, they feel more secure, making them more willing to share other toys and play materials.

5. Encouraging Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Understanding how others feel is an important part of sharing. When children develop empathy, they are more likely to share because they want to, not just because they’re told to.

Read more: 10 Ways to Boost Emotional Intelligence in Kids for Effective EQ Growth

Ways to Foster Empathy

• Talk about emotions: Ask questions like, “How would you feel if someone didn’t let you play?” to help children see the situation from another perspective.

• Read books about sharing: Stories like “Llama Llama Time to Share” can reinforce social skills in a relatable way.

• Role-play scenarios: Act out situations where one child doesn’t want to share and discuss how to handle it kindly.

Encouraging empathy-based sharing helps kids feel good about making kind choices rather than feeling pressured to give something up.

6. Group Play and Interaction

Children need consistent opportunities to practice sharing. Playing with others, whether at a park, daycare, or in organized groups, helps them navigate social interactions naturally.

How Group Play Encourages Sharing

• Regular social interaction: The more children play together, the more they practice sharing and problem-solving.
• Exposure to different play styles: Playing with kids of various ages helps children adapt to different personalities and play approaches.
• Opportunities to resolve conflicts: Sharing challenges arise naturally in group settings, giving children chances to practice problem-solving with guidance.

Creating regular opportunities for group play allows children to develop sharing habits in a real-world setting.

7. Positive Reinforcement

Praising a child’s efforts to share helps build confidence and encourages more frequent positive behavior.

How to Reinforce Sharing Behaviors

• Use descriptive praise: Instead of a general “Good job!”, say “I love how you shared your blocks with your friend. That was very kind!”
• Recognize small efforts: Even if a child struggles with sharing, acknowledge their progress. “You let your friend hold your toy for a few seconds, that was a great start!”
• Celebrate teamwork: Highlight the benefits of sharing by pointing out how it makes playtime more fun.

When children associate sharing with positive feelings and encouragement, they are more likely to do it willingly.

Helping children learn to share is a gradual process that develops through experience and positive interactions. Here are some ways to create an environment that supports sharing:

1. Allow Time for Children to Navigate Playtime Conflicts

When kids play together, they naturally encounter situations where they want the same toy or activity. Giving them space to find their own solutions can be valuable. Through trial and observation, children often discover that offering an alternative toy or suggesting a trade can lead to a peaceful resolution. This process helps them develop problem-solving skills while building confidence in their ability to interact with others.

2. Help Children Recognize Emotions in Social Situations

When a child takes a toy from someone else, guiding them to notice the other child’s reaction can foster empathy. Gently pointing out, “Look, they seem upset. What do you think we can do?” encourages them to understand emotions and respond with kindness. This not only strengthens their ability to share but also nurtures emotional intelligence.

3. Focus on Cooperation Rather Than Fairness

For young children, the idea of fairness may not be as important as the natural flow of play. Instead of trying to ensure everything is shared equally, focusing on maintaining a positive and engaging play environment can be more effective. Helping children find creative ways to take turns or play together fosters a sense of teamwork and enjoyment.

4. Sharing to an Only Child

For children growing up without siblings, sharing may not come up as often in daily life. Creating more opportunities to interact with other children, whether through playdates, preschool, or community activities, allows them to practice. 

At home, parents can model sharing by making small requests, such as asking to borrow a crayon or offering to take turns picking a story at bedtime. Celebrating moments when they share, no matter how small, helps build positive reinforcement and encourages them to do it more often.

Supporting kids sharing is an important part of helping children develop empathy, cooperation, and strong social connections. When they experience the value of sharing in a positive and supportive environment, they build essential skills that benefit them in friendships, at school, and beyond. Encouraging kids sharing early on helps create a foundation for meaningful interactions and lifelong collaboration.

At La Petite Ecole Ho Chi Minh International School, we recognize that every child learns and grows in their own way. Our engaging, play-based curriculum nurtures social development naturally, helping children build confidence in sharing, cooperation, and emotional intelligence. Through interactive activities and thoughtful guidance, we provide a joyful space where children can explore relationships and develop essential life skills.

We hope this article has provided helpful insights into fostering sharing skills in young children. Curious about how La Petite Ecole Ho Chi Minh supports social development and positive learning experiences? Contact us today!

• Phone: 028 3519 1521
• Email: contact@lpehochiminh.com
• Address: 172 – 180 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh city