The toddler years don't have to be a
struggle for parents. According to mom-entrepreneur Milena Djankovic, moms and
dads can already teach their toddlers how to share. Check out these five ways
parents can show their little ones that sharing is caring.
1. Tell them what's good about
sharing.
Communicating one's thoughts and
experiences is an effective way to get a child's attention, according to Milena Djankovic.
If parents want to impart why sharing is
good, they can start by telling a story or recounting something that happened
to them personally. During these formative years, kids absorb all the things
they hear from the people they trust. If lending things or letting others enjoy
something they own is as good as what mom or dad says, then it's worth a
shot.
2. Set an example.
Milena Djankovic says that parents are
the most reliable examples children have at this stage. During the toddler
years, everything mom or dad does is right in their eyes. This is the perfect
opportunity to ground values and good habits with kids.
Generosity starts at home, according to
Milena Djankovic. Letting the toddler have the last piece of cookie or letting
their older siblings take turns playing with a toy is a great method that will
encourage them to apply what they have learned.
3. Practice taking turns.
Milena Djankovic has witnessed
that sharing their favorite thing or food can be tough at first for
toddlers.
The only way to ease them into this new
habit is by practice. If they have older siblings, parents can try to let them
borrow something for a few minutes and then letting the other use it again. Mom
or dad can also do this. If they allow the child to have gadgets, they can
borrow it for a few minutes with the promise that he or she will get to use it
again after the agreed time.
Milena Djankovic and
her fellow parents agree that seeing this system implemented in the household
will let little ones understand that this should be a normal thing.
4. Affirm their efforts.
For some toddlers, even with all
the stories and the practice, sharing can still be a challenge, especially
since they are just realizing their ownership over some things. When they try
to make an effort to share their food or let others play with their toy,
parents must affirm their efforts. For Milena Djankovic, simply saying
"Good job!" or "That was very nice of you" will let the
child know that they're on the right track.
5. Understand if they're not
ready to share.
With realizations of their own along
with developing motor and communication skills, toddlers will take every chance
to enjoy their capabilities. As a mom of two, Milena Djankovic has experienced
that introducing values such as generosity might take time for these little
ones. She encourages parents to keep leading by example until it becomes second
nature for the child. But for kids who are not yet ready to share, parents
should give their child more time to process until they decide to do it. If
they're not yet ready, they shouldn't be punished. Instead, the toddlers should
be motivated to do what's right for them to truly learn.
Milena Djankovic is the president
and co-founder of RockerMama, a company that aims to come up with practical and
affordable baby products for mothers all over the world. Milena obtained her
political science degree with a concentration in communications and media from
DePaul University.
