Getting your kids to share

My children are only 15 months apart in age. As you can probably tell when they were toddlers they had a very hard time sharing. I was at my wit’s end as they were fighting constantly over toys. I reached out for advice and the simplest solution helped to change it all. Today, I am sharing that advice for getting your kids to share.

I was shocked at how the words “can I have a turn after you?” would change everything. When one of my children would come to me, crying, about how their sibling wouldn’t share with them I would tell them “ask him/her if you can have a turn after they are finished”. They would run, ask, and the crying would stop. Then a few minutes later whoever was playing with the toy would be over it and simply give that toy to them.

The one rule that we have is that they cannot complain about how long the person is playing with the toy or determine when their turn is over.

It’s shocking how everything changes once they realize they are in control of when their turn is over and sometimes it’s just within seconds that they realize they no longer want the toy. Now that we live in a neighborhood full of kids, have friends in our playgroup, etc. Our children are surrounded by opportunities in which they must share. I’ve used this tactic on their friends as well…and guess what? It works!

If you’re struggling with sharing in your family try this and let me know how it works for you!