Share Stories About Sharing

• According to Tania Cowling, preschool teacher and author of the book "Shake, Tap, and Play a Merry Tune," preschool children heed lessons taught by storybook characters because they identify with the characters. Read books to children about sharing, such as "It's Mine!" by Leo Lionni, "Share and Take Turns" by Cheri J. Meiners, "Mine! Mine! Mine!" by Shelly Becker and "Sharing: How Kindness Grows" by Fran Shaw.
  
  

Introduce Sharing Activities

• Let preschoolers participate in cooperative games and projects. For example, tack a large piece of butcher paper to a wall. Provide brushes and paints for the children to create a group mural. Not only do children share a project, but they also learn to share the art supplies. Monitor the children's interactions and praise sharing behavior.
  
  

Offer Choices

• When children struggle with a problem related to sharing, resist the urge to immediately intervene. Instead, pose a question such as "How do you suppose you would feel if you were playing with that doll and Lauren took it from you without asking if she could have a turn to play with it?" and wait for the child's response. Help preschoolers to learn problem-solving skills by offering options, asking questions and helping them to verbalize their feelings.
  
  

Model Sharing

• Preschoolers learn unselfish behavior by observing others. Talk about sharing stories and ideas and about how sharing with others helps you to feel good about yourself. Demonstrate compromising and sharing with children and other adults. After sharing with someone, talk about the other person's response and about how nice it felt to share with that individual.