Friend July 2016 “For Parents of Little Ones” Ideas for teaching children to share.
- Sing a simple rhyme or song when your children need a sharing reminder, like, “Sharing our toys is fun to do!” or “I can share to show I care!”
- Before friends come over, ask your child if he or she would like to pick a favorite toy to not share, like a prized stuffed animal or favorite truck. Put that toy away before the playdate.
- Set a timer to help children take turns. Sometimes children think that letting someone else play with a toy means they’ll never get it back.
- Make sharing a part of everyday life. Practice sharing with your child, even when it’s just the two of you, and point out when you’re sharing. Try, “Would you like to have some of my crackers? Look, we’re sharing! May I have a piece of your apple? Thank you for sharing with me!”
Friend April 2021 “Scripture Time Fun for Little Ones” Play a game or activity that involves taking turns, like stacking blocks to make a tower. Each time it’s your child’s turn, help them say, “We can work together.”
The Lord Wants Me to Share What I Have with Those In Need.
Section 104 is a revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet. The occasion was likely that of a council meeting of members of the United Firm, which discussed the pressing temporal needs of the Church.
Doctrine and Covenants 104:13–18
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 102-105”
Consider how you will help the children understand the Lord’s way of providing for His people when they are in need.
- Give the children a few minutes to make a list of blessings God has given them. Encourage them to list as many as they can. Then read together Doctrine and Covenants 104:13–18, looking for answers to questions like these: Who is the true owner of all things? Why does He give them to us? What does He want us to do with these things? Help the children think of ways they can share their blessings with others.
Friend November 2004 “Blessings Tree”
- Share an experience in which someone gave you something you needed, and ask the children to share similar experiences. Or show a video about serving others, such as “The Coat” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What do we learn from these experiences about serving others? Invite the children to be aware of those in need and find someone to serve this week, such as someone at school or especially someone in their family. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 102-105)
Friend July 2021 “Meet Eta from American Samoa” Eta’s mom owns a dessert bakery. Eta and her older sister, Talai, love to share the desserts with their teachers and leaders and with people who might be having a hard time. (includes photo)
Friend March 2020 “Harry Shares” Harry is playing with toys. He is having fun. Harry sees a girl who looks sad. Harry shares toys with her. Now they are both having fun!
- Invite the children to search the Children’s Songbook or Hymns for songs that have to do with service or helping others (see the topical indexes). Sing one or two songs together, and talk about what these songs teach us.
Friend September 2021 “For Little Ones”
Friend September 2022 “For Little Friends”
Friend August 2022 “Activity Time” Jamal is learning to share his toys with his little sister. Can you find the items below?
I Can Help Others in Need when I Share with Them
The people began to grow wicked during the reign of the second king, wanting lots of riches.
Some of the people in Jacob’s time were very rich and prideful, and they didn’t want to share what they had with people who were poor.
Jacob taught in the temple and told the people to repent of the bad things they were doing.
Jacob taught the following: “And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly (this phrase means that Heavenly Father had blessed them), that you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are alifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they.” (Jacob 2:13)
Jacob taught that we should clothe the naked, and feed the hungry, liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted. (Jacob 2:19)
Friend April 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities”
Jacob taught that we should be “free with [our] substance” (Jacob 2:17). That means sharing what we have with others. Make a treat to share with some neighbors or friends!
For younger children: Even small acts of service can help people feel lots of love. Help your children think of a kind thing they can do for someone else.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Jacob 1-4”
- Some of the people in Jacob’s time were very rich, but they didn’t want to share what they had with others. As you read Jacob’s teachings to them in Jacob 2:17–19, you could give your children pictures or objects to hold that go with words or phrases in these verses. You might explain that you are sharing these objects with them; maybe you could then invite them to share the objects with you or with each other. Talk about how you feel when you share. What else could we share with others to help them feel happy?
- After reading together Jacob 2:17, perhaps your children could name some blessings Heavenly Father has shared with them. Why does He want us to share with each other?
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Jacob 1-4”
- Invite the children to act out ways they can share what they have with someone in need. Testify that we are blessed as we share with others.
- Bring something to class that you can share with the children. Give some of it to each child, and explain that you are sharing. Ask them how they felt when you shared with them. How do they feel when they share with others? Help them think of something they could share to help someone feel happy.
- Tell the children that many people in Jacob’s time became prideful and unkind because they loved riches (see Jacob 2:12–14, 17–21). Invite a few children to read Jacob 2:17–19 out loud, and help them understand any difficult words. What should we seek before we seek riches? What should we seek to do with any riches we receive?
- Read Jacob 2:17 to the children. What blessings has Heavenly Father shared with us? Why does He want us to share with each other? Invite the children to share times when they shared something with someone else, including how they felt and how the other person felt.
Story Ideas
Friend March 2020 “Harry Shares” Harry is playing with toys. He is having fun. Harry sees a girl who looks sad. Harry shares toys with her. Now they are both having fun!
Friend November 1987 “Hand-Me-Down Box” Leigh is fortunate to have a caring friend who shares her hand-me-down clothes with her. She wants to grow up to be someone who shares with others.
- Was there someone in the story who was prideful and made fun of Leigh for her hand-me-down clothes?
Jacob taught the following: Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. Jacob 2:17
- What does it mean to think of others like unto yourselves? (Treat others like you would like to be treated, and give to others like you would give to yourself. (Think about the things you need and then help others who don’t have those types of things so they can have them too.)
Friend December 2019 “Martin’s Favorite Toys” Martin was not happy about having to move, but eventually he got used to his new home. One Sunday, he noticed a lot of new people at church. He found out that they were refugees. He wanted to help them, but he didn’t want to give them any of his toys. Then he realized that many of the children had to leave everything behind. He remembered how hard it was for him to move, but at least he got to bring his things with him. He then wanted to give them his favorite toys to help them be happier.
Invite the children to think of something they could share to help someone feel happy.
Cut out the arrow, and attach it to the center of the circle. Spin the arrow, and tell about how you can share what the arrow points to. CFM for Primary: BofM
Friend March 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones” Play a sharing game. Give each person a toy and set a timer. When it dings, everyone should run to someone else and say, “God is happy when I share!” and trade toys.
Friend July 2018 “Coloring Page: I Can Share with Others”
I can share what I have with others.
“Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022” Young children can learn to help people around them who are in need. How can you inspire them to share what they have with others?
- Show the children several pictures of others serving or helping people in need, including pictures of the Savior (such as Gospel Art Book, nos. 42, 44, 46). Ask the children to tell you what is happening in each picture. Read to the children Proverbs 22:9. Explain that one way we can serve is by giving “bread to the poor,” but there are many other ways to help those in need. Invite the children to draw a picture of themselves helping someone.
- Bring to class several objects that you can share with the children, such as pictures or crayons. As you give one to each child, say, “I will share with [child’s name].” Let the children take turns sharing the objects with each other. What are some other things we can share with others?
Friend March 2020 “Harry Shares” Harry is playing with toys. He is having fun. Harry sees a girl who looks sad. Harry shares toys with her. Now they are both having fun!
- Sing together a song about service, such as “‘Give,’ Said the Little Stream” (Children’s Songbook, 236). Or show the video “Gordon Hinckley: Lessons I Learned as a Boy” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Ask the children how they feel when they help others.
