Parents’ Corner // Sharing, Turn-Taking, and the Developing Brain

Many parents ask a familiar question:

“Why does my child still struggle with sharing, even after we’ve explained it so many times?”

The answer often lies not in behaviour, but in brain development.

In early childhood, the areas of the brain responsible for impulse control, emotional regulation, and perspective-taking are still developing. These abilities are closely linked to the prefrontal cortex, which matures gradually over time.

This means that sharing is not an instinctive behaviour for young children.

It is a complex social skill that develops progressively through experience, guidance, and emotional security.

When a child holds tightly to a toy, it is rarely about being selfish or defiant.

More often, it reflects a deeper need for:

• security

• a sense of control

• support with managing strong emotions

Understanding this helps adults shift their response — from frustration to guidance.

Instead of forcing children to share, we can focus on nurturing the abilities that make sharing possible. Calm, consistent support helps children gradually learn how to wait, take turns, and consider others.

These small everyday moments are powerful.

Each supportive interaction teaches children that:

✔️ emotions are safe to express

✔️ boundaries are reliable and fair

✔️ social skills develop gradually

Sharing is not something we impose.

It grows when children feel understood, supported, and emotionally secure.

Through patience and consistency — both at home and at school — we help lay the foundations for empathy, cooperation, and lifelong social confidence.