{"id":55653,"date":"2024-10-03T22:15:46","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T22:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/?post_type=first-things&p=55653"},"modified":"2026-02-04T23:30:23","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T23:30:23","slug":"sharing-and-playtime","status":"publish","type":"first-things","link":"https:\/\/www.firstthingsfirst.org\/es\/first-things\/sharing-and-playtime\/","title":{"rendered":"Developing a child\u2019s social skills through playtime"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sharing is an important social skill young children need to learn, but it can be one of the most challenging. Understanding the difference between sharing and taking turns is key to helping your child navigate these early learning stages.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Sharing<\/span><\/h2>\n

Oftentimes, when parents want their child to share, they really mean they want their child to take turns. But that\u2019s a slightly different concept.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharing involves giving some of something to another person, like asking your child to give some of their snacks to their sibling. Taking turns, on the other hand, means giving something away completely for a period of time. Both of these skills can be challenging for young children, especially toddlers, as it is developmentally normal for them to be self-focused.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Learning to share requires a child to recognize not only their feelings but also the feelings of others.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Child development experts say this empathetic awareness typically develops around ages 3 or 4, though some children may take longer to fully grasp the concept and learn how to share.<\/span><\/p>\n