How to Teach an Autistic Child to Share: Practical, Positive Strategies

Teaching an autistic child to share is a gradual process that focuses on skill-building, not compliance. For many autistic children, sharing is challenging because it involves waiting, understanding others’ perspectives, and managing strong emotions around preferred items.

A helpful first step is teaching turn-taking instead of sharing. Using simple phrases like “my turn” and “your turn,” along with visual supports or timers, helps make expectations clear. Starting with highly motivating toys encourages engagement and reduces frustration.

Modeling is also important. Adults can demonstrate sharing behaviors and praise attempts immediately, even if the exchange is brief. Positive reinforcement—such as verbal praise or access to a preferred activity—helps the child associate sharing with positive outcomes.

It’s important to avoid forcing a child to give up items unexpectedly. Predictability builds trust and reduces anxiety. Over time, children can learn to tolerate longer waits and more flexible sharing situations, especially in structured environments like therapy sessions or guided play.

At Achieve Behavioral Therapy, we use evidence-based ABA strategies to teach sharing in a supportive, respectful way. Our individualized programs help children build social skills, emotional regulation, and confidence—making sharing a skill they can understand and practice successfully.

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