Learning to share is a long process, and for most children, it's a difficult one. Especially in a child-care setting, it can be hard for children to understand the basics of "ownership" -- what's mine, what's yours, and what's ours? This week of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood programs can help lay the groundwork for positive attitudes about sharing.

The ability to share grows as children develop some very basic and complicated foundations, such as:

• a sense of self (that they are separate from others);
• possession (that what is "mine" is separate from "me");
• trust (that something will be returned to them);
• empathy (that they can see things from other people's point of view).

Here are some of the messages within this week of programs about sharing:

• There are some things that children shouldn't have to share -- things like their favorite soft animal or blanket. When children know that the things most precious to them are just theirs, they may be able to manage better when they do need to share other things.

• When children get angry about sharing things, they can find constructive ways to deal with their feelings.

• People can't just take things that belong to others. They need to ask first.

• Sharing love isn't like sharing things. The more you share your love, the more you have inside you.

Sharing Ideas

Sharing isn't just for "things." It can be for interests and ideas, as well. Lots of different guests this week share something they've learned or something they enjoy doing. It can give people a good feeling to share what they like to do with others. In fact, child-care providers, parents, and teachers do that all the time!

The Concept of Borrowing

Mister Rogers deals with another concept of ownership that is difficult for children -- borrowing. On one of the programs, Mister Rogers brings in some toy trucks. He tells his viewers he asked if he could borrow them from friends, and they gave their okay. One important way children learn is through examples of the caring adults in their lives.

Sharing in Child Care

Child-care settings are a natural place for children to learn about ownership, sharing, and borrowing. And the most natural people to help children learn those concepts are the people who care for them, about them and their feelings.

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