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Expert Q&A
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| By Susan Bartell Licensed Psychologist | ||
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How can I encourage my 1-year-old to share?
It is highly unlikely that you will be able to teach a 1-year old to share. Children this young are very egocentric, which means they have not yet developed the learning and emotional skills necessary for understanding the give and take of relationships. It's really no different than trying to get a 4-month-old to walk - you may try to teach it, but your baby's body just isn't ready to do it yet. Requiring your 1-year-old to share will be met with frustration, anger and confusion. Children typically only begin learning the skills of sharing when they are about 2 1/2 or 3 years old. It is important to keep this in mind so that you don't pressure your child to attempt skills that he or she is not yet ready to learn.
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