Learning to Share: What’s Normal for Toddlers & Preschoolers (and How Sports Like Mighty Kicks Can Help)
If your toddler clutches a toy and shouts “Mine!” like it’s their full-time job—take a deep breath. You’re not failing as a parent, and your child isn’t being “difficult.” Learning to share is a developmental process, and for young children, it takes time, practice, and patience.
Understanding when and how sharing develops can make these moments less stressful—and even become opportunities for growth.
Why Sharing Is So Hard for Young Children
For toddlers and preschoolers, sharing isn’t just about kindness—it’s about brain development.
Young children are still learning:
How to manage big emotions
That objects don’t disappear when someone else uses them
That other people have feelings too
These skills develop gradually, which means sharing won’t look perfect—and that’s okay.
Developmental Milestones Related to Sharing
Here’s what sharing typically looks like at different ages:
Ages 2–3: “Parallel Play” & Ownership Awareness
At this stage, children:
Play near others, not with them
Strongly identify with their belongings
Struggle with waiting and turn-taking
Sharing at this age often means short turns with adult support, not voluntary generosity.
Programs like Mighty Kicks help by introducing simple group routines where children:
Take turns with equipment
Practice waiting briefly
Learn that everyone gets a chance
All with encouragement and structure.
Ages 3–4: Beginning Turn-Taking & Social Awareness
At this stage, children start to:
Understand simple rules
Recognize that others have needs and wants
Share when guided by an adult
They may still struggle emotionally, but they’re beginning to understand the concept.
In Mighty Kicks classes, coaches model and reinforce:
“Your turn, then my turn”
Waiting in line
Using shared equipment respectfully
These real-life experiences help turn abstract ideas into concrete learning.
Ages 4–5: Early Cooperative Play & Empathy
By this age, many children:
Can share more willingly
Understand fairness
Begin showing empathy
Sharing still isn’t perfect—but it’s becoming more consistent, especially in structured environments.
Mighty Kicks supports this growth by encouraging:
Team-based games
Group challenges
Positive reinforcement for cooperative behavior
Children begin to feel proud of sharing and helping others succeed.
How Parents Can Support Sharing at Home
Here are a few realistic ways to encourage sharing without frustration:
Name the feeling: “I see you’re upset—it’s hard to wait.”
Practice taking turns, not forced sharing
Set expectations before playdates
Praise the effort, even when sharing is brief
Remember: learning to share is about building skills, not instant compliance.
Why Group Activities Like Mighty Kicks Matter
Children learn best by doing. In group settings like Mighty Kicks, kids practice sharing in a natural, supportive environment where:
Everyone follows the same routines
Expectations are clear
Adults model positive behavior
Success is celebrated
Sharing becomes part of the experience—not a constant negotiation.
Progress Over Perfection
Sharing is a skill that develops over time. There will be setbacks, strong emotions, and moments that test your patience—but each experience is helping your child grow.
With consistency at home and positive group environments like Mighty Kicks, children gain the confidence and social skills they need to navigate friendships, classrooms, and teams.
At Mighty Kicks, we believe learning to share is just as important as learning to kick a ball.
Through play, structure, and encouragement, we help children build the social skills that last far beyond the field.