Learning to share is very important for children. However, it can be tricky. In fact, it could lead to upset, anger, and even violence in some cases. It can be especially frustrating when children are absorbed in small world play with farm toys or trying to solve a puzzle. Luckily, there are a number of things you can do to help them get better at sharing. Let’s have a look at some of them.

Taking turns

One of the most vital things to teach children is how important it is to take turns. You need to show them they can’t simply take what they want or push in; they should be respectful and wait, even if it causes frustration.

Leading on from this, you also need to teach children to be assertive if they are playing with something and another child tries to take it. It’s a key skill to learn. Teach them to be gentle but clear that they can have the next turn.

Practising at home

If your child is having trouble sharing, it’s a good idea to practice at home. You can go through different scenarios here to explain what to do. It is really useful and you can then use these lessons to challenge behaviour if you need to. For example, if they try to snatch farm toys from another child, you can stop them and ask what they should do instead.

Playing at home

Problems with sharing can often rear their ugly head when your child has a play date at home. They may have a lot of trouble letting someone else, even a close friend or relative, play with their own toys. A good idea here is to plan ahead. Ask your child what they are comfortable sharing and anything they would rather pack away. This gives them more control and can make the whole experience more relaxing.

Siblings

Sharing can sometimes be a big problem for siblings. Most are naturally competitive, competing for love and attention. At the same time, they can be more possessive of their own things. You need to be clear about the rules with your children, including taking turns. It’s also important to provide support and guidance. However, you can let the children resolve many disputes themselves. If you do need to step in, make sure you mediate and support both sides.

Assigning tasks or designating areas

If you are having problems with children playing together, it can help to step in and assign tasks or designate different areas where they can play. Farm toys are a great example. You could give one child a field to manage and another a barn to look after. It allows independent play but can also lead to cooperative play and sharing.

Be calm

A key thing to remember is you need to stay calm. Getting angry and shouting at a child is rarely ever productive. It’s much better to calmly explain the problem and solution. The last thing you want is for your child to develop any resentment towards you or feel like you aren’t supporting them.

Bruder farm toys are exceptional

There are lots of different toy makers on the market, including massive brands. In the farm toy world, if you want realistic scale models, names like Britains, Siku, and Bruder stand out. We particularly love the latter because their products are rugged and have impressive features like working steering. This makes them more engaging, meaning children are less likely to get bored.

If you want some Bruder farm toys, we have some fantastic ones at JS Hubbuck Ltd. We’re happy to provide information, such as age appropriateness and more, so call today.