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 and by taking good care of them when they do
Lead by
example: The best way for your children to learn generosity is to witness it. So share your ice
cream with them. Offer to let them listen to a tape on your Walkman. And don’t forget to remind them
that intangibles (like feelings, ideas, and stories) can be shared too. Most important, let them see
you give and take, compromise, and share with others.
Teach them what not to
share: Once they gets the hang of it, your children may be so eager to spread the wealth that you’ll
need to remind them that some items — like their toothbrush, comb, hat, and shoes — are best kept to
themselves.