The Joy of Sharing

As the holiday season approaches, our little ones are eagerly crafting their wish lists and can hardly wait to see what surprise awaits them under the tree. The joy of opening a gift thoughtfully chosen for them is a magical experience. But just as wonderful is the joy of sharing. Whether it's a toy, a snack, or a smile, sharing is an essential social skill that children will carry with them throughout their lives.

What Does Sharing Look Like For Young Children (0-3 years old)?

For infants and toddlers, sharing can be a challenging concept because, at this stage, children are still developing their sense of self and ownership. In the first three years, children are primarily focused on their immediate needs and are just beginning to understand the idea of "mine" versus "yours."

• 0-1 Year: Babies at this age are not yet capable of sharing, as their primary focus is on exploring the world around them. However, they might engage in parallel play but not necessarily share toys. The interactions they have at this stage are foundational for later social behavior.

• 1-2 Years: Toddlers begin to show interest in each other’s toys and may exhibit early signs of sharing. At this age, they often need guidance from caregivers. It’s common to see a child take a toy from another or struggle to share. However, they are also beginning to learn how to take turns, especially if encouraged by adults in a gentle and supportive way.

• 2-3 Years: By ages 2 and 3, children may start to show more interest in playing with others and even begin to share, especially in familiar settings. However, they still have a strong sense of "mine" and may need to be prompted by adults to share. 

What About Older Children?
As children grow, their ability to understand and practice sharing improves. By ages 4 to 6, children have developed stronger social and cognitive skills, and sharing becomes more fluid and meaningful. 

What Do the Experts Say?

JEAN PIAGET

Piaget believed that children go through stages of cognitive development, and their understanding of social concepts such as sharing evolves as they mature. According to his research, young children are egocentric, meaning they struggle to understand other people’s perspectives. For Piaget, the ability to share and take turns develops gradually as children’s cognitive abilities increase.

LEV VYGOTSKY

Vygotsky's theory emphasizes the importance of social interaction and cultural context in child development. In his view, cognitive development is largely shaped through social interactions, and this includes learning behaviors like sharing.

ALBERT BANDURA

Similarly to Vygotsky, Albert Bandura believes qualities such as sharing are learned through modeling. When children see adults or peers sharing, they are more likely to imitate that behavior. 

At Home

1. Model Sharing: As we learn from our early childhood experts, children gain understanding by watching the behavior of adults. Be sure to model sharing in your daily interactions, whether it’s sharing a treat, a book, or your time with others. Seeing it in action helps them integrate that behavior

2. Use the Holiday Spirit: Christmas is a perfect time to talk about the joys of giving and sharing. You can involve children in the process of selecting gifts for others, wrapping presents, or donating toys to children in need. This helps them understand the joy of giving and how sharing can make others happy.

3. Praise Sharing: When you see your child sharing or taking turns, offer positive feedback. This helps children feel proud of their behavior and motivates them to continue sharing.

4. Read Books About Sharing: There are many wonderful children's books about sharing, such as The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister or Should I Share My Ice Cream by Mo Willems. Reading these stories with your child can help reinforce the message and spark conversations about the importance of sharing.

At The Bubble Bus 

At the Bubble Bus, we believe in the power of sharing to build strong, positive relationships. Through gentle guidance, modeling, and positive reinforcement, we encourage our little tigers to show kindness to one another and take turns with popular toys. In areas like the block zone or pretend play stations, we create opportunities for group activities, such as building structures together or making and sharing imaginative meals. These experiences not only teach the value of sharing, but also foster cooperation, empathy, and teamwork among our young learners.