Should you really teach your children to share?

Most people would probably agree if I said that you should teach your children to share, but what if I told you that I don’t believe this to be true? 

I think it depends entirely on the circumstances and on what the particular item is that ‘needs’ to be shared.

I remember being told by someone once when I advised them that one of my daughters didn’t want to share something that, ‘I would have to teach her to share because she’d need to do this when she starts school’.

Perhaps so, but again I think it’s dependent on the situation and item in question.

Sharing is a valuable life lesson. It can help you get far in life and it also teaches children to be flexible, patient, kind and caring.

I have to be honest and say that my children are very good at sharing.

If there’s only one toy and both of my girls want to play with it, they’ll either share the toy or take turns.

My question, however is, ‘Should we teach our children to share everything?’

This is where I have to answer with no.

My children have particular items that are precious to them, but they also have some pretty expensive toys that I don’t want to get broken. In addition to this, my girls have lots of games and puzzles, and I absolutely hate it when a piece goes missing. For this reason, when we have friends around who have children, I will put these games and puzzles out of sight, quite often in another room with the door shut.

I also advise my children that if there are any particular toys that they don’t want to share, then they should also put them out of the room whilst their friends are over.

Is this wrong?

I don’t think so.

My children both have their favourite toys that go everywhere with them, including bed. They’re also pretty special items to me, such as their special care blankets. I wouldn’t want these shared with another child either, but if my children decide to keep hold of them when we have friends round and their friend wanted to play with it, I wouldn’t hesitate in saying no.

We need to teach our children, that yes, it’s good to share, but that doesn’t mean you should share everything. There are limits and exceptions, and that’s ok.

What do you think?