Focus on the Family Magazine - June/July 2020

HACKS & FACTS / SHARING
Two Hands, Two Toys
Toddlers have a knack for claiming everything in a
room as “mine.” When my son entered that phase, I
would often find him in the midst of a who-had-itfirst
squabble, with his arms filled with so many toys
that he could barely hang on to them all.
This was when I first implemented the “two hands,
two toys” policy. I explained to my son that he could
hold two toys, one in each hand. He caught on right
away, and that policy became a simple way to curb
his greed.
The bonus? Fights with other kids became less
common because he had to choose which toys were
most important to him.
My Turn, Your Turn
—Karli Friesen
Sharing can be very difficult, especially for little ones.
Early on, I would practice with my children. We would
pass toys back and forth quickly and say, “My turn” and
“Your turn.” This fast-paced game helped them begin to
learn what sharing actually means.
—Courtney Roberts
The Fun of Sharing
editorial director Michael Ridgeway
I don’t usually force my 2-year-old managing to editor share. Andrea I’ve Gutierrez
noticed that this sometimes sr. can associate cause editor her Vance to act Fry
greedier. Instead, when I catch sr. associate my other editor children Marianne Hering
sharing, I praise them and what copy chief they Scott did in DeNicola front of
my youngest. I exaggerate the community/culture good time everyone
editor Thomas Jeffries
is having—sharing a snack with parenting a sibling editor or Sheila letting Seifert a
friend use a toy—so she wants marriage to share editor on Troy her Griepentrog own
and doesn’t miss out on all contributing the fun. editor Ginger Kolbaba
art director Brian Mellema —Evie Palmer
designer Anneka Jack
Food Shopping
for Siblings
president Jim Daly
chief operating officer Ken Windebank
publisher Steve Johnson
cover TK
media publishing director Kevin Shirin
editorial assistant Kat Bittner
print production Gail Wise
circulation Sandy Grivy
Before going to the grocery store, each child draws
a slip with a sibling’s name on it. While shopping,
each child must pick one food item specifically for
the person he or she has chosen and add it to the
cart. Instead of kids focusing on things they want,
they are challenged to think about someone else.
It’s shopping-cart sharing!
—Jim Diefenderfer
ISTOCK.COM / COKAPOKA
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FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
June / July 2020