How to Help Toddlers and Preschoolers Learn to Share

“Mine!” Young children love that word and parents hear it more often than they’d like. Sharing doesn’t come naturally to little ones and that’s okay. It’s a skill, just like walking or talking, and it takes time.

The good news? There are simple ways to help toddlers and preschoolers learn to share without turning it into a battle. Here are three simple approaches that work beautifully:

1. Model Sharing Yourself: Children learn by watching. When you say, “Let’s share this blanket” or “Here, have a bite of my apple,” you show them what generosity looks like. Small, everyday examples matter more than big lectures.

2. Use Books and Stories: Stories are a safe way for children to see sharing in action. In Kedi & Jake, Jake offers love and kindness to his furry friend. Reading about kind characters helps kids imagine how they might share in their own world with a toy, a snack, or a hug.

3. Praise the Effort, Not Just the Result: When your child tries to share, celebrate it! Even if it doesn’t go perfectly, say something like, “I love how you gave your friend a turn” or “That was kind of you to offer.” Encouragement makes it more likely they’ll try again.

Remember, toddlers are still learning self-control. It is normal for them to cling to “their” things. Sharing should never feel like losing. It should feel like connecting. And with patience, guidance, and lots of love, they’ll get there.

Every toy shared today is a step toward empathy tomorrow.

How to Help Toddlers and Preschoolers Learn to Share