Sharing between toddlers

[1Cor13]

Hi, what is everyone's take on sharing between your kids??
I mean if your kids have toysthat re "just theirs" do they have to share?? I always told my kids that they dont have too but it would be nice too. we have certain toys that they have to shre as they belong to both of them. Am i creating selfish children by telling them they dont have to share???
Whats your take on it??

[luvmy4sons]

We used the 21 rules of this house when they were young(and we still use them now)

I used to go over these rules with my sons every morning in devotions. We even found scriptures for each rule. We still manage by them and I use them as reminders when needed. It helped me be a better mother and them to obey!



The 21 Rules of This House

1. We obey our Lord Jesus Christ
2. We love, honor and pray for one another.
3. We tell the truth.
4. We consider one another's interests ahead of our own.
5. We speak quietly and respectfully with one another.
6. We do not hurt one another with unkind words or deeds.
7. When someone needs correction, we correct him in love.
8. When someone is sorry, we forgive him.
9. When somone is sad, we comfort him.
10. When somone is happy, we rejoice with him.
11. When we have something nice to share, we share it.
12. When we have work to do, we do it without complaining.
13. We do not create unnecessary work for others.
15. When we open something, we close it.
16. When we turn something on, we turn it off.
17. When we take something out, we put it away.
18. When we make a mess, we clean it up.
19. When we do not know what to do, we ask.
20 When we go out, we act just as if we were in this hourse.
21. When we disobey or forget any of the 21 Rules of this house, we accept the discipline and instruction of the Lord


Because of rule 11 my boys were required to share. The only time they weren't required to do so immediately was on their birthday upon receiving a new gift. They were allowed to partake in that gift for awhile before sharing it.

[jen1981]

We encourage sharing, however there are some things that we let the kids have as their "special toys" usually birthday presents or things they have purchased with their own money. It is good for them to have something that is just theirs. We don't let them grab it away or yell about it if someone else has it. If bro. has sis. toy and she wants it, she must ask for it in a polite manner. If they won't then they do not get the toy back. Sometimes too if it is obvious that they only want the toy because the other one has it, we tell them they must wait awhile and then they can have it back.

[Kensbev]

I've got a 2yo and a 10mo, and I've had to create a special rule about sharing. If you don't want to share, play with it in your room. Ok, so it's more for my older girl than my younger, but I'm very sure that the 10mo will grow into the rule.

The only exception is toys that are just dangerous for the baby, like Audrey's Sit-N-Spin. And I don't ask Tory to share her Exersaucer, either, lol. I do require Audrey to keep those kinds of toys in her room, and I keep Tory's baby toys in her room.

I think that this is a good way to teach them sharing. Another rule I've got, for toys like dolls or stuffed animals, is that if they start fighting over a toy, neither of them get it.

[Madre]

Here is an article on sharing from the main page:

http://www.christian-mommies.com/columns/parent-to-parent/teaching-an-only-child-to-share/

I tend to agree with the author that a child shouldn't have to share every single thing. Sometimes a child is playing alone with a particular toy or creating something (like a Lego project or a puzzle). I tend to think that sometimes he should be allowed to be left alone and not necessarily forced to share because another child appears in the vicinity. I also think that he should be able to have a few special toys that aren't up for grabs. On the other hand, you don't want to encourage selfishness and if you are seeing this in your child, then it might be good to cross it.

[1Cor13]

thanks.. i think when we move, in a week and they each have their own rooms with their stuff, they dont have to share, but they do have a toy box of shared toys that will be in the rec room..we will see how that goes....

[~Tara~]

my kids share, always have, always will
when they get something new they have X amount of time where they are not 'required' to share
but generally, they get more than one thing at a time, so, they playwith one and let a sibling play with a different new thing...then swap
it's life in a family
it's life in a big family
you share. everything.
deal with it :)

the only thing not 'shared' is big kid stuff with littles Gotta keep the legos out of baby's reach