Alanna on Sharing

We've been working a lot with Alanna on the concept of sharing. It's hard for a toddler and for the most part, she's pretty good about it.

In the mornings, she has a habit of wanting to bring something (usually edible) with her as we leave the house to head to daycare. So instead of simply saying no, we've begun telling her that if she wants to bring something along that's fine, but she has to bring enough to share with Trayton and Dylon too. Sometimes, she's ok with that and others she will leave whatever it is she wanted at home.

Earlier this week she wanted to bring an apple. We said that was fine, but that Gloria would cut it up so that she could share it with her friends. She held on to it all the way to Gloria's house and was pretty quiet actually. We got there and I took the apple from her to get her out of her carseat and found....she'd taken itsy bitsy nibbles out of it ALL over...each side had at least two or three nibbles. Not enough to eat it, but enough to mark it as hers. There would be absolutely no way to cut it without hitting a bite mark. Little turkey had basically used the "if I lick it, it's mine" strategy.

Get out of my Pumpkin!

I am beginning to wonder if perchance Alanna is struggling with the concept of sharing. In social situations which I've observed, she's done rather well....or so I thought.

Last night she was playing with her little Cinderella playset. Storybook Playset The companion set has a little pumpkin coach and I was watching her from the hallway when I saw her march the little princess up to the coach and state, "Hey, you're in my seat. You're in my car. Get OUT OF MY PUMPKIN!" She was apparently the voice of the princess talking to whichever little figure was in the pumpkin coach at the time.

After I stifled a giggle, I walked over and asked, "Honey, shouldn't they share the pumpkin?"

Her answer?

"No, Mommy. No!"