No, babies are generally not capable of sharing toys intentionally due to their developmental stage and lack of social readiness.
Understanding why babies don't share requires looking at their social and cognitive development. Just as infants cannot learn to walk until they are physically ready, children cannot learn to share until they are socially ready. Sharing is a complex social skill that requires understanding others' perspectives, managing impulses, and comprehending concepts like turn-taking and ownership, which are beyond a baby's capabilities.
Why Sharing is Difficult for Babies
For babies, the world is largely centered around their own immediate experiences and needs. Objects, including toys, are primarily for their own exploration and sensory input. They are just beginning to understand possession and control over their environment.
Key reasons why babies don't share include:
- Lack of Social Readiness: Sharing requires understanding social cues and the feelings of others, skills that develop much later.
- Egocentrism: Babies are naturally focused on themselves and their own desires. They don't yet grasp that others have feelings or wants.
- Focus on Possession: At this stage, babies are learning about 'mine'. It is completely normal for even older toddlers (like a two-year-old referenced in developmental guidance) to exhibit possessive behavior over toys, sometimes even shouting, “No! Mine!”
- Limited Communication Skills: Sharing often involves communication (verbal or non-verbal) about taking turns or giving items, which babies haven't developed.
Developmental Timeline for Sharing
Sharing is not something that can be taught through simple instruction at a very young age. It's a skill that emerges gradually as children mature socially and emotionally.
Here's a general idea of typical development regarding sharing:
| Age Range | Typical Behavior Regarding Toys | Sharing Expectation |
|---|---|---|
| 0-18 Months | Explores objects, focuses on own interaction, little awareness of others' use of toys. | None |
| 18-30 Months | Shows possessiveness, parallel play (playing alongside others but not interacting), difficulty with turn-taking. | Very Low |
| 2.5 - 3 Years | May begin to understand simple concepts like turn-taking with significant adult guidance. | Emerging |
| 3+ Years | Starts engaging in cooperative play, can participate in guided sharing with practice and reminders. | Developing |
Trying to force a baby or young toddler to share before they are developmentally ready can be counterproductive and create anxiety around interactions with peers and toys.
Instead of expecting babies to share, focus on creating a safe and stimulating environment where they can explore toys independently or engage in parallel play alongside others. As they grow, gentle introduction to concepts like turn-taking in simple games can lay the foundation for later sharing skills.
