LEARN · PRACTISE · DISCOVER
Sharing, Taking Turns and Teamwork
Have you ever wanted the same toy as someone else at the same time? It happens a lot! Today you will learn three skills that make playing together fair and fun: sharing, taking turns and teamwork.
Sharing
Sharing means letting others use or enjoy something too. We can share toys, crayons, snacks (if a grown-up says it is okay), and even ideas.
Ways to share
- Split things up: “You have three blocks and I have three blocks.”
- Use it together: “Let’s both colour this picture.”
- Offer: “Would you like to try my scooter?”
Taking turns
Sometimes only one person can use something at a time, like a swing or a game controller. Then we take turns.
- Use a timer: “Two minutes each.”
- Count: “You can have ten pushes, then it is my turn.”
- Use words: “Can I have a turn when you are finished?”
Waiting can be hard
Waiting for a turn takes patience. While you wait, you can cheer for your friend, count slowly, or think about what you will do on your turn.
Example
Ava and Leo both wanted the red bike. Ava said, “Let’s use the kitchen timer. You go first for three minutes, then it’s my turn.” When the timer beeped, Leo gave Ava the bike. They both had fun and nobody cried.
Teamwork
Teamwork means working together to reach a goal. Building a big sandcastle, tidying up a room or playing a team game all need teamwork.
| Good teammates | Not-so-good teammates |
|---|---|
| listen to each other’s ideas | only do their own idea |
| give everyone a job | leave others out |
| cheer when the team does well | blame others for mistakes |
| help when someone is stuck | laugh at someone who is stuck |
Key takeaways
- Sharing lets others enjoy things too.
- Taking turns is fair when only one person can use something.
- Timers and kind words help with turn-taking.
- Teamwork means listening, helping and working toward one goal.
Practice
Play a board game or ball game with family members and practise taking turns. Afterwards, tell a grown-up one thing that was easy and one thing that was hard about waiting for your turn.
Answer ideas: easy might be “cheering for my brother”, and hard might be “waiting when I really wanted to roll the dice”. Any honest answer is correct.