Have you tried the “trade a toy” method when teaching your child(ren) how to share?
Sharing is a complex skill that requires higher-level thinking; however, with some gentle coaching, you can easily set your child up for success. Before I dive in, I want to explain that this is just ONE of many different schools of thought out there. The “trade a toy” method is NOT the only strategy when teaching the skill of sharing. It is important for children to have a variety of tools in their box when learning to navigate play and social interactions with other children.
Recently, my brother sent me a picture of his daughter and son playing together. It appeared to be a sweet exchange between a toddler and her baby brother – her handing him a stuffed animal toy. My brother then prompted me to play the “live” photo and watch the actual exchange – her grabbing a stuffed animal toy right as he reached for it. I responded by saying, “Looks like it might be time to teach her the “trade a toy” method.”
The “trade a toy” method is a great way to introduce the concept of sharing
while also ensuring that everyone still has a toy to play with. Simply, prompt your child to find an unused toy, and teach them how to make a trade for the toy they want.
This strategy will look different depending on the ages of your children, and often as they get older, you may find that assistance is needed when negotiating a toy trade. However, in the case of my niece and her baby brother (or younger children in general), any unused toy is often suitable for the exchange, as it is more about providing the other child with a toy to look at and grab.
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