Kids

Respect your kids’ things: If your youngsters feel that their clothes, books, and toys are being manhandled, it's unlikely they’ll give them up even for a moment. So ask permission before you borrow their colored pencils, and give them the option of saying no. Make sure that siblings, friends, and babysitters respect your kids’ things too, by asking if they can use them … [Read more...] about More tips on encouraging sharing

Talk it up: Your children are old enough to engage in a detailed discussion about sharing, so talk about the issue and problem-solve together: "Let's say Nathan comes over and wants to try out your new glitter paints. What will you tell him?" In your discussions, point out to your children how sharing will help them build friendships, something of paramount importance to them … [Read more...] about How fathers can nourish the quality of sharing in children

For the most part, children are good at sharing. They understand and even act on empathy, they're caught up in friendships, and they like to please others. They have mastered most of the rules of social interaction, so unless they're having a bad day (or going through a rough patch), they share pretty well. Father’s are sometimes liable to be surprised that they share so well, … [Read more...] about What a father can teach about sharing

Lay down the "house rules:" Situations will undoubtedly arise that require you to correct your visitor's behavior. Rather than simply reprimanding him, says Wilford, remember that the rules may be different in his house and that he needs to understand the reasoning behind your requests. Instead of saying, "Don't eat in there!" for instance, say, "We only eat in the kitchen at … [Read more...] about Resolving conflicts during Playdates

Keep younger siblings out from underfoot: Do your best to distract younger children when an older sibling has a friend over (better yet, pair a younger child with his own playmate). Much as you may welcome a playdate as easy entertainment for both of your kids, being saddled with a little brother or sister isn't fair to the child having the playdate — not to mention frustrating … [Read more...] about Some more Playdate protocols