At what stage do children typically begin to share and take turns?

Children typically begin to share and take turns during the preschool stage, which generally occurs between the ages of 3 to 5 years. During this developmental period, children are learning essential social skills and are becoming more aware of the needs and feelings of others.

At this age, they start to engage in cooperative play, where sharing and turn-taking become important components of their interactions with peers. This is influenced by their increasing cognitive abilities, social awareness, and language skills, which help them understand rules and cooperate with others. Children observe their peers and begin to practice and internalize these behaviors, leading to crucial developments in empathy and social connection.

In contrast, infancy is characterized by solitary play and minimal awareness of others. School-age children further refine sharing and turn-taking skills, while adolescence typically focuses on building deeper social relationships and independence, often moving beyond basic sharing behaviors.