ALEX Toys Official Blog

Ask Nurit: Sharing is Caring

Dear Nurit,

I have two children 2 and 5. They usually play quite well together but as my youngest has grown in awareness she’s become somewhat grabby with communal toys. My 5 year-old is being as gracious as his age level allows him to be but I can tell he’s getting frustrated. How can I help my toddler learn to share?

Sharing is a developmental process that comes with time, patience, and guidance. Here are a few tips that will make learning to share less stressful for everyone.

1. Before play time or playdates, prepare your child for sharing situations. Role play at home how they should ask for a toy a friend is playing with and how to wait if the answer is, “No.”

2. Communicate with your child that grabbing toys from other children is not acceptable. Gently return the toy back to the child playing with it.

3. If your child has a tantrum or breakdown over a toy remove him from the situation calmly until peaceful play can be resumed

4. Expect a young toddler to behave like a young toddler. Set age appropriate expectations and share them with older children in the home.