One of the daily battles of a parent is to encourage sharing. Keep reading for some fun and easy ways to encourage your kids to be more generous!
Full lesson including examples, activities, and why sharing is so important + FREE resources to make teaching this important skill EASY!
Sharing increases trust in relationships and mutual connection as you enjoy the same item or spend more time together. We might think of sharing toys, but sharing encompasses a generous spirit that contributes to helping others more frequently, feeling happier, and growing as an individual.
Learning about generosity can start when children are young. When they do thoughtful things for others, it helps them see a world beyond themselves. It also sets them on a path to make a difference in others’ lives. – Alberta Health
Example:
Friend: Can I play with your toy?
Good Response:
You: No! This is mine!
Good Response Options:
You: Sure! How about we play with it together?
OR
You: I am using it right now, but you can use it in 10 minutes.
Activity:
Coloring a Rainbow Object Lesson
Instructions: Give each participant a rainbow coloring page (click link below for our free printable!) and one colored crayon of the seven needed to complete a full rainbow. You can either wait for them to ask for the other colors, or upfront ask them if they feel like they can complete the rainbow with the crayon they have. Encourage them to ask nicely and communicate positively as everyone works together to complete their rainbows.
Takeaway: We all have things that others want or need, whether it is an object or an ability. We can share what we have to help others and be helped in return!
Discussion Questions:
- What are some things that made it difficult for you to share?
- Why do you think sharing is important?
- What is something that is very hard for you to share?
- How can we be more generous this week?
Book Recommendation:
“Should I Share My Ice Cream” – Mo Willems
Resources for this Week:
Receive these for FREE by clicking the button below + you will receive new resources each week for each week’s theme.
Plant Daily Seeds of Kindness Poster Log:
As your kids complete acts of kindness either from drawing ideas from the jar below, or coming up with ideas on their own, they can color in a seed. You can encourage them to do one a day, or more if you would like. Consider having a reward planned when all the seeds are colored in, but the habits of kindness they will develop are the ultimate reward! We have printable options for 24 x 18 in and 36 x 24 in.
Jar + Seeds
Place this week’s label on the jar and then cut out the seeds or create your own for kids to pull out each day. Each seed has an idea of how to be a good listener for the day, to practice the skill and develop a new habit of listening to serve.
- Practice Making Eye Contact while listening.
- Ask someone a question to get to know them.
- Set aside 5 min to listen to someone having a bad day.
- Call someone you haven’t talked to in a while.
- Visit a neighbor and listen.
- Ask someone a clarifying question as you listen to them.
How it Feels to Share Activity Page
Not just a coloring page. This activity page is a review of how we feel when we share + tactile practice folding, coloring, and cutting. Discuss with kids why both kids are frowning when they aren’t sharing, and why both are smiling when they do share.
Kindness Journal Pages
A summary of the lesson included on this page + activities, riddles, games, writing prompts, and more! These pages are taken from our Kindness Journal which is available for purchase through Amazon. If you don’t want to print your own pages each week, click the button below!
- Weekly topic on kindness to work on individually or as a family/classroom.
- Lesson detailing why it is important to work on that area of kindness, how to do so, and an example.
- Activity page including games, activities, writing, and more!
- Weekly Journal Page to write about the week
- Collectable quote page to hang on the wall as a reminder of the week’s topic.
