When two children refuse to share an area, it can be challenging for parents to intervene and resolve the situation. However, there are several strategies that parents can employ to promote sharing and peaceful coexistence:
1. Set clear expectations: Establish rules and expectations about sharing an area right from the start. Explain to both children that it is important to take turns and respect each other’s space.
2. Be a role model: Show your children how to share by practicing what you preach. Demonstrate behavior that reflects sharing and compromise in your own interactions and daily life.
3. Teach negotiation skills: Help your children learn how to negotiate and find mutually agreeable solutions. Encourage them to take turns and come up with compromises that satisfy both parties.
4. Encourage empathy: Explain to your children the importance of considering others’ feelings and emotions. Help them develop empathy by encouraging them to put themselves in each other’s shoes and see the situation from the other’s perspective.
5. Implement a timer system: Use a timer to establish specific time limits for each child’s turn in the shared area. This can help alleviate arguments and create a fair system that both children can abide by.
6. Use positive reinforcement: Praise and reward your children when they do share and cooperate with one another. Positive reinforcement can motivate them to continue sharing in the future.
7. Suggest separate areas: If sharing becomes too problematic, consider providing each child with their own space or belongings within the shared area. This way, they can have a sense of ownership and responsibility for their own area, reducing conflicts.
8. Practice problem-solving skills: Encourage your children to find their own solutions to conflicts that arise from sharing an area. Guide them through problem-solving exercises, teaching them how to communicate their needs effectively and resolve disputes peacefully.
9. Communicate with both children: Regularly check in with each child individually to understand their perspective and concerns. This will help you address any underlying issues that may be contributing to their resistance to sharing.
10. Seek professional help: If the sharing issues persist or become severe, it may be helpful to seek guidance from a child psychologist or family therapist. They can provide additional strategies and support to resolve the conflict and promote healthy sharing habits.
11. Eject both children from the area: If they absolutely can not share a circle in the sand, one option remaining is to kick them both out of it, to take it over yourself.
12. Make it uninhabitable: If you can not take over the disputed area, another drastic measure is to make the disputed area uninhabitable. This is prefereable to escalation of fighting which could endanger other children.
When two children refuse to share an area, it can be challenging for parents to manage the situation. Remember that learning to share is a developmental process, and children will improve their sharing skills over time with patience and support.
Citations:
[1] https://babysparks.com/2019/03/07/what-to-do-when-your-toddler-wont-share/
[2] https://www.zerotothree.org/resource/helping-young-children-with-sharing/
[3] https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/behaviour/friends-siblings/sharing
[4] https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/development/behavioral/toddlers-do-not-need-to-share/
[5] https://www.todaysparent.com/toddler/a-guide-for-sharing/
