“I Should But I Won’t:” Young Children’s Understanding of Sharing

by Susan Newman, Ph.D.

Young children know way more about sharing than you may think. As parents, we teach them that “sharing is caring,” but a new study indicates that it might not be their playmates that they’re “caring” about.

A Yale University study, “Young Children are More Generous When Others are Aware of Their Actions,” suggests that children are more likely to share and play nice when they know that they’re being observed and have the opportunity for a gain in reputation. Even though y...