Anyone Care to Share?

[melilley]

Reading through these posts I'm not sure what everyone's definition of sharing is.

To me, sharing means that if one child has a toy he should not have to give it up or "take turns" just because another child comes up and says they want to play with it too. The second child needs to learn to accept "no" as an acceptable answer (after they ask politely to play) and move on to something else.

Or is everyone having problems with the second child ^?

Maybe I'm just a meanie

This is how I think of sharing too.

[WImom]

I teach all the kids here to say "Can I have a turn when your done?" the child playing with it has to say "Yes". If they yell no or our rude then they can give up the toy now. (less words for the 2y old group if needed)

I think kids need to learn to wait and that they don't always get what they want when they want it. I mostly have "only" children here so it's always a big problem at first.

They also have to ask to play with another child and that child can say "Yes" or "No Thank you".

[WImom]

Reading through these posts I'm not sure what everyone's definition of sharing is.

To me, sharing means that if one child has a toy he should not have to give it up or "take turns" just because another child comes up and says they want to play with it too. The second child needs to learn to accept "no" as an acceptable answer (after they ask politely to play) and move on to something else.

Or is everyone having problems with the second child ^?

Maybe I'm just a meanie

[JoseyJo]

Reading through these posts I'm not sure what everyone's definition of sharing is.

To me, sharing means that if one child has a toy he should not have to give it up or "take turns" just because another child comes up and says they want to play with it too. The second child needs to learn to accept "no" as an acceptable answer (after they ask politely to play) and move on to something else.

Or is everyone having problems with the second child ^?

Maybe I'm just a meanie

To me sharing doesn't mean giving up your toy- it means not trying to take away other people's toys. If a child has a toy here and another child wants it they are allowed to ask "may I have that toy when you are done?" and that claims the next in line spot for them. When the first child is done they are to give the toy to the next in line child instead of putting it down, away, or to another child. Then second child isn't supposed to just stand around badgering the 1st child for it, and they don't get it right away. They go find something else to play with until the first child is done.

The problems I usually see here in the "sharing" category are hording toys, wanting a toy that another child has and not wanting to wait, or putting a toy down/away and getting another but then throwing a fit when another child picks it up.

[JoseyJo]

When I think of sharing, I'm thinking about a group of things...like a bucket of blocks, cars, etc. I do have dcks who will want all of them for themselves and not share. I have a DCG who likes to play with all of the dolls at once and it's hard for her to give one up when someone else wants one.
I don't ask anyone to give up what they're playing with because someone else wants it. The child wanting the toy asks the other to please let them know when they're done with it. And then they breathe down their neck until they give it up.

We have separate rules for groups of toys- for blocks we would split them into equalish piles for however many children wanted to play (the children and I would do this together, or they do it themselves when older), if another child wants to join in everyone gives them some until everyone has the same amount again, and if a child leaves they split that child's pile up between them.

for dolls/action figures we have a "2 toys" rule. Everyone can have 2- if you have more than 2 and someone wants one you have to give up the extras.

[coolconfidentme]

I don't ask anyone to give up what they're playing with because someone else wants it. The child wanting the toy asks the other to please let them know when they're done with it. And then they breathe down their neck until they give it up.

This drives me crazy as much as the toy hoarder or the kid who tries to hide a toy. I try to let the kids play & interact with each other, but some days I feel like a referee.

[BrooklynM]

There is a great book called "Sharing Time" by Elizabeth Verdick. I have all of her books- I love them! They are all board books to read to the kids. We read her "Naptime" book everyday before naptime. It talks about being happy nappers, and let me tell you, I have very happy nappers! The books are very short and the kids love them.

I'll type out the book, so you can decide if you want to buy it :-)

Sharing Time by Elizabeth Verdick

Page 1- Some things are fun to share...like smiles, laughs and hugs.

Page 2-Some things are hard to share. "She might take it", "He might break it", "Mine!, Mine!, Mine!"

Page 3- (picture of 2 kids with the grown-up) Grown up says-"Uh-oh, where did your smiles go? Is the fun all done?

Page 4-Time to use your sharing words. May I play with that? Okay.

Page 5-Can I have a turn? Yes. Sharing is kind and caring. Ready? Now you try some sharing words.

Page 6-Way to go! But wait--Sometimes the answer you'll hear is "no" Can I use that please? No!

Page 7-Someone might not want to share. You may think it isn't fair.

Page 8- If you feel sad or mad, you might want to yell or grab. Try this: Take deep breaths in and out. A grown up can help you work things out.

Page 9-(A grown up says) You can play with the toy together, or you can take turns with a timer, or we can put away the toy for later. (the kids say) Play together!

Page 10 (shows them playing together) You are super sharers! Sharing can mean double the fun.

Page 11- And sharing a while will make someone SMILE.


Anyway, it is a cute book! My 2 year old DCB LOVES it and asks for it everyday. He was the reason I actually bought the book, so it really worked for him, but its just a tool for your tool belt, it doesn't have all of the answers.