D2 is rapidly approaching two years old and is learning all about sharing. I know that I am not the only mother to notice that in the ego-centric toddler universe, sharing is anathema. While we were in California D2 and I went to a story time at the local library. After the program the tots dispersed to the play area. D2 saw a truck that he liked and went over to the child who was playing with it and snatched it out of his hands. I gently redirected him to another toy only to watch another toddler snatch that toy out of D2′s hands! The tot’s mother ran up to her son an scolded him for snatching the toy away and we all commiserated about the challenges of teaching our LO’s to share.

Sharing and the concept of generosity is an important developmental step for children and it got me thinking; I’ve encountered plenty of adults who never quite got the hang of sharing.

For instance, have you ever had a work colleague who was an information hoarder? You know these are the people for whom information is political currency and they thrive on keeping important bits of information to themselves that might be useful to others? What about the friend who bends your ear off all the time with her problems but rarely stops to ask how you are doing?

We all have our selfish moments but part of being in the grown up world is learning to share — our time, our gifts and talents or sometimes just a shoulder to lean on. Sometimes it means helping someone else and expecting nothing in return.  How do you teach your children about sharing and generosity?