As parents, we know that getting kids to share takes creativity and patience. Kids don’t always listen to reason, and despite our best efforts, the most exciting toy is often the one their sibling or friend is holding. So, what can we do about it? Using baby dolls, here are five sharing activities for toddlers that promote kindness and make sharing toys a little easier.
Take note, what works for one child won’t always work for another, even within your own family. For that reason, some of the activities will fit better with your child’s preferred play patterns and temperament. Test things out, see what works, and good luck!
Host a Baby Doll Tea Party
The first step is to introduce sharing within your child’s trusted circle of dolls, stuffies, and toys. Hosting a tea party or having a picnic is a great way to show your little one that sharing helps make others happy and builds strong friendships and bonds. As they share food and imaginary drinks and attend to their doll’s needs, your child sees how sharing can be fun without any pushback. As you join the circle, make sure your child shares with you, too. Ask them for things, including those they’re currently using, and test the limits of how well they will share and sacrifice.
How this sharing activity for toddlers helps:
- Teaches patience and taking turns.
Introduce Twin Dolls
Buying two of the same exact toy doesn’t necessarily help with sharing. In some cases, duplicate toys can aggravate the issue and create more territorial behavior. However, LullaBaby twin dolls are designed to let kids play with both baby dolls or share one with a sibling or friend. These dolls are meant for interactive play and are a great stepping stone to get kids comfortable playing harmoniously. If kids play together with their dolls, act out role-play scenes, and have fun as a team, it’s a good sign they’ll be cooperative with other toys and other kinds of play, too.
How this sharing activity for toddlers helps:
- Promotes harmonious play.
Share Baby Doll Clothes
Toddlers love dressing up their baby dolls, but with so many dresses, pajamas, and outfits, it can easily lead to a squabble. “I want the one with pink flowers,” “No, it’s mine.” The key to minimizing conflict is to practice asking and granting permission. Start by asking for certain items of clothing, including ones they’re playing with. Try trading the floral onesie for the pink dress, for example, and see how they react to compromise. Praise them, encourage them, and focus on the multitude of cool outfits and who gets to put them on the baby doll. Once they start cooperating and letting you take your turn, see how they do with other outfits, dolls, and finally with other children.
How this sharing activity for toddlers helps:
- Encourages cooperation and compromise.
Care for Baby Dolls Together
If your children love baby dolls, there’s a good chance you have one of the classic accessories in your home, like a high chair or bassinet. When kids fight over that toy, buying a second just to prevent conflict isn’t ideal. Instead, show your children how fun it can be to play with it together by giving each a doll or toy and taking turns feeding their toy or putting it to sleep. Make sure that when one is using the favorite toy, you give the other child a specific task or activity, like preparing the food or getting their doll dressed for bed. If that doesn’t work, see how they do using the toy together, either each feeding the same doll, one after the other, or each rocking their doll, singing a comforting lullaby together. It won’t always work, but when it does, it’ll be magical.
How this sharing activity for toddlers helps:
- Reinforces the idea of sharing responsibilities.
Reward Sharing
The best way to encourage good sharing habits is through positive reinforcement. If nothing has worked and your child still struggles with sharing, the key is to stay patient and keep working at it. Like learning to walk, potty training, or learning to write, your kids WILL learn these skills, just not always as fast as you’d like. It’s always easier to teach with rewards versus punishments, so keep giving your child opportunities to share, and find rewards that excite them at each step. Rewards can be anything from a sticker to time with mommy or daddy’s cell phone. Maybe they’ll only hand over a coveted toy if they can get their hands on something better. Maybe they’ll never hand over a toy they’re monopolizing, and you’ll need to take it away and replace it with something else. Whatever works for your child, give yourself grace, celebrate small wins, and keep at it. All kids have kindness in their hearts, and your child will learn to share, especially since you’re working so hard to help them.
How this sharing activity for toddlers helps:
- Creates a positive association with sharing.
Why these sharing activities for toddlers matter
LullaBaby dolls are more than just toys—they’re teaching tools. Open-ended role play works wonders for developing imagination and kindness. Every cuddle and game with a LullaBaby doll is a way for your child to learn important social skills while building lasting bonds, both imagined and real. The key ingredient to success isn’t the doll, the toy or even your child, it’s how you help, guide, and encourage your loved one towards kindness.
You can do this, and so can your child.