Kids are possessive of their toys? This is what you need to do

Children who are possessive of their toys will usually feel annoyed, angry, or even cry when their toys are borrowed by others. It was as if, no one should ever hold his belongings, including his parents. So, how to solve it?

The possessive phase of a child occurs at the age of 18 months to 4 years. At that age, children have an understanding that the objects they have are only their own. That is why many children are very possessive of their toys and do not want to share them with others, even with their siblings.

Tips for Overcoming Possessive Children to Toys

Actually, the possessive phase in children is a normal thing, really, Bun. In addition to being possessive of their toys, children can also be possessive of their mother, father, or loved ones.

However, this should not be taken lightly and Mothers should not silence the behavior of the Little One. If this possessive nature is not controlled properly, your little one can develop into a selfish person and don't want to share, you know. Don't let this make it difficult to make friends later.

Well, to overcome possessive children towards their toys, here are the steps you can take:

1. Don't force the child

The first thing to do is not to force the child. The more we force him to share toys, the less he will listen to what we have to say.

It is possible that your little one will do what Mother tells you to do, but with compulsion and without understanding the meaning behind Mother's advice. This doesn't even train him to share, Bun. Maybe, the little one gets annoyed every time he has to share.

2. Give an explanation that is easy for children to understand

Forcing a child will only put him in a bad mood. If your little one is reluctant to touch other people's favorite things, you should give him an explanation. Use the simplest possible sentences, so that he is persuaded to share the item.

For example, “Deeks, sharing is a good thing, you know. If you don't want to share with other people, then other people won't want to share with you either. Just imagine, do you think Adek would like to be treated like that?”.

If the value of sharing is constantly reminded of the baby, gradually his heart will be moved to share and start lending his favorite things happily.

3. Often invites children to play together

Playing with friends can train the spirit of sharing children naturally and is also beneficial for their growth and development and intelligence. However, in the midst of a pandemic like now, it's best if your little one just plays at home, right, Bun.

Therefore, Mother, Father, and other family members should be able to take the time to invite the Little One to play together. This moment can also be a medium of learning so that he is willing to share or lend his favorite things.

Remember, sharing is not only with friends, children also have to learn to do it with their closest family. After he understands the meaning of sharing with family, then the attitude of sharing with friends will develop by itself.

4. Teach children to negotiate

Teaching children about the meaning of negotiation can also help them become less possessive with their toys. If your little one starts to look stingy and doesn't want to lend his toys to others, instead of yelling and scolding him, it's a good idea to negotiate with him.

The key to negotiation is to find a win-win solution. Look for solutions that can make children want to share without feeling annoyed and even feel benefited afterwards. For example, if he wants to share a toy, you will extend his playing time by 10 minutes.

Overcoming possessive children towards their toys is not easy and it takes extra patience so that the little one understands what Mother is teaching.

If after applying the tips above, your child still doesn't want to share and is still possessive of their toys, don't hesitate to ask for advice from a child psychologist to find out how to train a child that fits his personality.