Show & Tell Went Terrible Wrong.....

[Christina72684]

We haven't done Show & Tell for about 6+ months and I have several different kids this time. I decided to start doing them the first Friday of every month. I have 8 kids 3-5years old and they each brought a toy from home. It started out fine with everyone sitting with their toy in their lap, listening to each child talk about what they had, where they got it, and why it was so special. Then when everyone was finished I told them that they can now all play with their toys, but they had to share. I told them that they have their toy at home with them all the time, so they should let other kids play with their toy here, while they play with someone else's toy. I thought they understood this and let them lose to play while I made lunch. Next thing I know they're fighting over toys, wanting their own toy back, and not getting along at all.

Does anyone do something different for Show & Tell? Does it just take a few times for them to get used to it? If I was a kid I'd want to play with someone else's cool toy before playing with my own, but I also don't have the thought process of a 3 year old

[Shell]

As a former teacher for 4 to 6 year olds, I run my show n tell similarly to yours, except ours is once a week. I have 2 almost 4 year olds that get the whole concept and share during this time nicely (one is my own ds that doesn't always like to share, but he loves the toy exchange). My 2 almost three year olds are lovely little ones, but will not share their show n tell without major intervention on my part. It just shows me the difference a year will make in so many areas of development. Could you do show n tell more frequently? And, I think you are going to have to supervise the sharing. I set a timer for 2 minutes, and then we swap toys.

[CraftyMom]

Honestly, none of my dcks would share their toy. We no longer do show and tell because it doesn't always go well, but when we did the toys had to go straight back to the cubby.

Even still, the kids knew their toy was there and asked/cried for it all day. This is the reason I don't allow toys from home at all, no matter how much they promise, they just can't seem to share their toy.

You could try having them put the toys in their cubby right after, I wouldn't expect them to want to share, even to play with someone else's toy. My dcks would want their toy AND their friend's toy

[Maria2013]

Then when everyone was finished I told them that they can now all play with their toys, but they had to share. I told them that they have their toy at home with them all the time, so they should let other kids play with their toy here,

I would never ask a child to share their personal toys

I do show and tell, very rarely, and that's the only time I allow items to be brought from home, after the show, the toys go back to the kids cubbies and we go back to business as usual

sorry it didn't go well for you :hug:

[Msdunny]

I once had this concept explained to me like this - if you had a brand new car, you might want to show it to your friends, but you might not want to let them drive it. I think I would do show and tell, but with the understanding that some kids may not want to 'share' a prized possession, even a prize that might not seem like much of a big deal to us. I think I would have them show the toy and then put away.

[Heidi]

I've heard of show-and-tells where instead of toys, kids had to bring something special that's NOT a toy. A cool leaf they found, a bug in a bug catcher, a picture of their family on vacation, etc.

Parents would need a list of ideas, and would be encouraged to be creative. Finding the right thing would be family "homework". Like, a song to sing or even bring a parent or picture of their parent "this is my dad. He is a fire fighter. He saves people" or "this is a picture of my brother. He likes to play video games".

So, instead of it being about something materialistic, it's about sharing a part of their life, or something from nature, etc. It could even be a family recipe, and a taste of said recipe. Like cookies Grandma always makes from Poland, etc.

Ok, I think I over explained...again...

[CraftyMom]

I've heard of show-and-tells where instead of toys, kids had to bring something special that's NOT a toy. A cool leaf they found, a bug in a bug catcher, a picture of their family on vacation, etc.

Parents would need a list of ideas, and would be encouraged to be creative. Finding the right thing would be family "homework". Like, a song to sing or even bring a parent or picture of their parent "this is my dad. He is a fire fighter. He saves people" or "this is a picture of my brother. He likes to play video games".

So, instead of it being about something materialistic, it's about sharing a part of their life, or something from nature, etc. It could even be a family recipe, and a taste of said recipe. Like cookies Grandma always makes from Poland, etc.

Ok, I think I over explained...again...

Great idea!

[Luvnmykidz]

I didn't read all the responses, but the way I have show and tell planned is like this. It happens once a month on the last Friday of the month, which will also be the close of whatever theme we are working on. For the all about me theme they can bring a special toy/item from home of their choice. They will have time to play with the item at the end. They are encouraged to swap toys with each other for this brief period. During all other months their show and tell item must relate to what we are learning, based on color letter number or shape for that month. They also wear something that is the color of the month and our meal for lunch or snack that day will have something to do with our theme.

Sharing is encouraged and once the timer goes off all items must be put away.

[melilley]

I do not do show and tell for the reasons you mentioned. Heck, my kids get mad if others try on their shoes! In fact, I have to put shoes up or a fight will ensue-I have one 3 yo and the rest are 2.5 and under.

Instead I do Fun Fridays where we do a fun activity according to the theme of the week or sometimes whatever. I put it on the calendar and parents can look to see if they need to bring anything like food (food tasting or nutrition), maybe a book (they don't fight over them), wear a certain color etc... Only one of my parents actually participates every time and the other Fun Fridays I do a special art project or activity.

[originalkat]

I have show-and-tell every Friday. They can bring 1 toy or other item to share. After sharing time I let them play with their toy but they do not have to share it. Everyone can play with their own. IF they want to share then they must let everyone have a short turn with it (which I typically have to oversee). There are usually no problems that arise with my group of 8 children (2 1/2-5 yrs). If there are problems then everyone has to put their toys in their cubbies. The threat of this usually inspires them to change their ways. This is what has worked for me for the last 6 years I have done it this way. It is really fun and the kids look forward to it all week.

If I were you I would try:
1) Have it weekly rather than monthly
2) Have each child be in charge of their own toy and do not require sharing

[Maria2013]

I've heard of show-and-tells where instead of toys, kids had to bring something special that's NOT a toy. A cool leaf they found, a bug in a bug catcher, a picture of their family on vacation, etc.

pictures show and tell are my favorite! ... way more fun and educational than any toy

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have show-and-tell every Friday. They can bring 1 toy or other item to share. After sharing time I let them play with their toy but they do not have to share it. Everyone can play with their own. IF they want to share then they must let everyone have a short turn with it (which I typically have to oversee). There are usually no problems that arise with my group of 8 children (2 1/2-5 yrs). If there are problems then everyone has to put their toys in their cubbies. The threat of this usually inspires them to change their ways. This is what has worked for me for the last 6 years I have done it this way. It is really fun and the kids look forward to it all week.

If I were you I would try:
1) Have it weekly rather than monthly
2) Have each child be in charge of their own toy and do not require sharing

Pretty much how it is here except they don't have to share with everyone. It has worked fine for 2 years now (about 8-12 2 to 5yos)

[cheerfuldom]

I wouldn't insist kids share their toy. I would have them put their items back in their cubbies till nap time. you can also try remaining in the circle and having a timer, each 30 seconds everyone passes the toy to the right so everyone gets a short chance to hold it....then all toys to the cubby

[spud912]

I've always done show and tell on the last Friday of the month. The children can bring 1 item from home and it is put in their cubby until circle time. At circle time, I have each child "show" their toy and say something about it. Then they have to pass it around the circle so everyone can take a closer look. After circle time, it goes back into their cubby and is returned at pick-up.

[MarinaVanessa]

I once had this concept explained to me like this - if you had a brand new car, you might want to show it to your friends, but you might not want to let them drive it. I think I would do show and tell, but with the understanding that some kids may not want to 'share' a prized possession, even a prize that might not seem like much of a big deal to us. I think I would have them show the toy and then put away.