Marianne Frostig wrote in Movement Education: Theory and Practice that “movement activities can help children to adjust socially and emotionally.  It can provide them with successful experiences.  It can permit interrelationships with others in groups and with a partner.”

Infants and Toddlers are “Egocentric.”  They believe that the world revolves around them.  They think the sun rises and sets just for them. Parents help to reinforce this concept.  Mommies and daddies will often say “I got this truck just for you.”  Grandpas and Grandmas will often say “I bought this doll just for you.”   This is one of the reasons that it is very hard for them to share when they think everything belongs to just them.

Infants: One of the ways to help infants to start to work with others is to praise them when they do.  Encourage them to start to take care of their things. In my book “Teaching with Heart” I suggest young children sing and pretend to rock baby dolls in the activity on “Rock-a-Bye-Baby.”  This activity starts to teach the development of trust and responsibility for others.  Young children should be encouraged to trade toys not share them.  It’s very hard for them to give up and share things they consider their own.  It’s much easier just to trade. This is the first step to “conflict resolutions.”

Toddlers:  Encourage children to care for things in their immediate environment like helping to put their toys away when they are finished playing with them.  Have them help to water houseplants, or feed animals.  Extend this to feeding the birds in the yard. Asian philosophy believes in treating things in nature with respect.  In their concept of “reincarnation” it is believed that you come back as that which you disrespected, so praise toddlers when they respect nature by not stepping on ants or killing spiders.

Preschool:  A partner activity in my book “Teaching with Heart” is to sit on the floor with another child having their feet touch.  Then have them reach over and grasp each others hands and rock back and forth while singing “Rock-a-Bye-Baby.” This activity can help children to adjust to working with others.  As children get older they need to start to have “chores.” They should have both family and school responsibilities.  This then gets translated to responsibilities to others and then the community at large, like collecting food for the homeless or giving to “Toys for Tots” for the holidays.