Young children like to share with others, provided it does not disturb their personal world. If, however, they begin to see that sharing can take away what they claim as rightfully theirs, it can lead to problems. It is important to begin to teach lessons of sharing as early as possible by playing games that require preschool age children to take turns. Associating sharing with fun and happy experiences will help preschoolers to become more receptive to the idea.
As a child reaches age 3 and beyond, she needs to learn vital social skills that will make her a well-adjusted person in the outside world. These social skills include the art of sharing. Parents should be mindful that it takes practice and patience when teaching the child how to share with others. There will be mistakes and misunderstandings along the way; for example, when children are corrected and forced to give their toys to another child, they often become angry at adults and think that "sharing" is a negative experience.
It is never too early to teach a child how to share with others who do not have what they do. Explain to the child that there are other little boys and girls who do not have as much as he does and it is important to share with these children. This is a lesson that will stick with the child for the remainder of his life.
Parents should always remember that their child observes and mimics their behavior. If parents do not share with others, they cannot expect their children to do so. Be mindful of your own behavior around children. For instance, if you are going to donate clothes or food to a charity, bring your child along; it is a great example to them of sharing from those that they admire most.