When I was a kid in the kindergarten I was forced to share(only my teachers made me do it, luckily) many of my toys and books. The only thank I got for this was to see my belongings ruined. By teaching Carson to say "no" to other children, this mother actually teaches her son to respect his own opinion and choices. Carson chose to share his toys with a close friend(to whom he trusts she wouldn't damage) and making your opinion matter is a very important thing in the adults' world.

You don't teach your kid to share, you teach him that one of the best feelings in the world comes from sharing your stuff with others ! The source of your joy should be the joy you bring to others. But for this to happen, it must be his own decision, as there is no joy in being forced to share. I strongly agree with the mother.

I'm a mom of five ranging in age from 26 down to 12. The mom is right here. I see the huge difference from when my 26 year old was young to now. Back then, the OTHER PARENT would come and apologize to my son for the rudeness of their child. When my 12 year was younger it was the EXACT opposite. And we wonder why kids are so disrespectful/rude/entitled now...

Needless to say anything else. I agree with the mother. This is more than just "to share or not to share".

I absolutely love this mother's response. Which parent is going to step up and pay for the toy when it gets broken? Ya, just what I thought. Those parents would say "if he didn't want it broken, he shouldn't have brought it." Sorry folks, not everyone gets a trophy!!

The last commentor, James, got it backwards there! The people ALLOWING their children to go and DEMAND that another child share with them are the kids that will FEEL ENTITLED!!! Further, children that are compliant with their demanding counterparts are ENABLING that ENTITLEMENT way of thinking!

I don't have to give my "stuff" to strangers simply because they ask. You don't know me. Would you hand me your car keys if I asked to drive your car? Or take jewelry off & give it to me if I asked to see it up close? Would you hand your baby to me if I walked up and asked to hold your child? -- The wise answer is "No". I am not obligated to give you what you ask for or do what you want me to do simply because you ask. If you are my friend and we've built a good, trusting relationship, my answer would most likely be "yes". Trust that is built between people requires both to put something into the relationship. The other children have not built any trust with this woman's son. He has no obligation to give strangers what they ask for. -- If I asked your child to get in my car and go for a ride with me, should he just go because I ask him to go? If your answer to this question is yes, then you are using the same logic the parents who bristled at her advice to her son. Wisdom is the key.

Is "sharing" is even the right word to use in this case? Isn't this more of a case of "lending", since a single doll can't really be "shared" at the same time? Wonder if the reactions would be different if the word "sharing" had been replaced with "lending". Lending to 6 complete strangers.

A lot of parents these days dont know how to parent. I dont see anything wrong with saying no.

Completely agree with what this mum has done. In nursery my child was taught to play with communal toys that belonged to nursery as long as he wanted, but when he lost interest or stopped playing with it he put it back so another child could play. At home if there are children significantly younger than him I tell him to be kind to little ones as they don't know about sharing properly yet and he will gladly hand over toys to them. I brought him up to share but also know that he can say no too (eg when a child he knows will break his things as we've experienced and the parents don't even care) we don't share because we value our things and others should too. He's growing up to be a kind and considerate child who will gladly share (just the other day he got less at the shop because his friend didn't have enough money for what she wanted) but he knows he can say no too and not be berated or made to feel guilty about it

The last negative comment kisted above is so ridiculous it deserves the "jumped to conclusuons" award. Nothing in the original post by the parent coukd possibly lead one to believe that the child wss being taught to want what others had. Only to maintain control of what was his own already. Big difference. This woman has done her son a great ser ice by teaching him what is right, not what is PC.

This woman has common sense ... a rare commodity these days. This situation reminds me of birthday parties and all the other kids get to open the gifts of the birthday child ... not cool.

She did perfectly right.

I agree with Carson's mother. She is teaching him to stand up to bullies. That is exactly what the 6 children did. They started to bully him for his toys. Carson, learn to say no to situations and people that you are uncomfortable. As for the negative reaction, I believe the lesson has gone straight over their heads.

kids expecting his stuff and bitching to his mom because a stranger didn't give up his property mind blowing idiocy

I totally agree with this person. He was planning on sharing but with someone he knew not a bunch of strangers. With that said the response by someone who said a sandwich is a different situation ok then how would you like it if I a total stranger came up to you and said I want to use your phone. Share it with me. Are you going to share your phone - maybe if an emergency but just because I don't think so. I am sick and tired of a lot of people thinking what's mine is theirs. No I worked hard for my stuff and I am not sharing with someone I don't know. Sorry.

The ones who don't agree with her need to rethink things. No, we do not have to share. What makes you think everyone has to share?

Don't take candy from strangers, kids! But DO share your candy WITH strangers! Kids are taught weird lessons, but rarely are they taught what Carson learned that day from his mom: discretion.

What the hell? Of course this mom is right! Being taught to help yourself to anything that doesn't belong to you for the simple reason that 'people have to share' is the first step to criminal activities or even sexual herrassment. Parents sometimes forget that teaching your children is laying a foundation for something bigger. Might seem a bit dramatic but just think about it for a minute...

I agree ...you have taught your child that sharing is not mandatory all the time. The boys on the playground seem to be the ones with entitlement issues. I wish more people would teach their children this way. Maybe the world would be a better place.

in what way is she teaching her child that he is entitled to other peoples things? She is teaching him that if he choses not to share his possessions with complete strangers then he doesn't have to feel obliged to. Perhaps when he gets to know them he will let them have a turn with the toys but that is up to him. I have 5 children (all grown now) and I have taught them that you need to take turns to share things but not that someone who is playing with something is just going to give it up to you before they have finished with it. The 'taking turns' method worked well for us and I do not have children who feel entitled to anything they have not worked for.

I reckon the parents objecting also think they're entitled to the use of total strangers' cars just because they want to use it.

She's right. What if he would give one of his toys to a stranger and they destroy it? Who gives her the money? nobody the only thing they will do is say something stupid like "ohh I'm sorry but you know how childrens are."

They were just strangers? I have never had the experience in my childhood of totally random children approaching me or my brother for toys. I wouldn't trust strangers with my stuff, even then!

like most things in life. Finds the middle road.

Anyone who disagrees with this mother is a complete idiot

My children share if they want , I do ask him if you take toys to playground you could share. My two year old is not interested in sharing and don't forced her either. She does when she wants. My son is more willing to share he is bigger and they like to trade toys again only if wants. I don't expect anyone to gave up they stuff just because

I think that in scenarios where you do not want to share as a child, you should not be forced to. This woman is correct to teach her child to protect his belongings. Lots of people today have problems standing up for themselves and also not giving in to everyone else's wants. No one should have to go out of their way in a situation where they are uncomfortable and overwhelmed just to "share" with someone they don't even know.

I don't let my kids share any toys they bring with them with any of the other random kids at the park just to make sure the also make it home in the same condition they came in because I guarantee should a toy get broken by that random child, their parent wont be offering to be the one to pay to replace it.

It's so hard, as an adult, to say "no i don't want to do that", it's important, i think, to learn it as a child. As well as, of course, learning to share with people we know and live well with other. But it's essential ti learn to live well with yourself, and it's really hard (and angry looks don't make it any easier) [sorry if i made spelling mistakes, i'm french ;))

One woman said that the comparison between a sandwich and a toy was bad. Let's pick something more close to something an adult would think think a toy is. If she was a public bathroom applying makeup and six strangers came in and asked, "oh can we all share your makeup?" I'm confident that woman would say no

The Mom is 100% correct! I think the parents of the 6 kids are in the wrong! Teach your children that they can't just take or demand from others! The world doesn't work that way - these parents are teaching their children to be entitled!

Love how this was handled!

I totally agree! And i think and this may only be my perception... She is not 'teaching her child not to share' and it doesn't really have ti do with the fact you bought the toy with hard earned money

I agree with this mom. If you don't want to share you don't have to. It's your own belongings.

I think they make kids share too much soon they become targets for bullies

I have to constantly tell my own child that if she wants to play with someone else's things, she needs to ask or put the toy/ball/what have you down. It's not polite and I don't want to see her hurt because of it. The woman is absolutely right, if she told her son to share with the other kids, he might grow up being an absolute pushover. By teaching him to say no, she's empowering him to make his own informed decisions and to stand up for himself. The other parents should teach their children not to be such entitled little brats. Last I checked, "gimme" is not an appropriate way to ask for things.

This is like a situation when my daughter was in elementary school. A boy 2-3 years older than her was grabbing her and kissing her against her wishes. He was demanding/being a bully/not respecting her personal space and her telling him NO. When she told me, I called the school to keep him away from her and his thinking that it is ok to demand/take affections from little girls. I was told that I was blowing it out of proportion. Where upon I said that I would NOT stand for them to program my daughter that it is fine for someone to force themselves upon her... setting her up to be a future victim of date-rape. NOT going to happen!

Are kids really this entitled now? I mean, if my boy tries taking someone elses' toy, I take it off him, hand it back to the child and apologise. Then I explain 'ask nicely' etc. I can't imagine having 6 random children demand toys from another and not getting a single apology or intervention or response from the parents. Where are people's manners ;(

Who said I need to share with you, I think the mother got a point there. And I agree with her.

Anyone who disagrees with this mother is an idiot

I'm honestly quite conflicted. I can see both sides of the story. If you would like to teach your child the value in sharing good stuff, you should encourage your child to share. On the other hand, making him share his toys with 6 random strangers is really just a bit much - how do you make sure the kids (or their parents more likely) will be accountable for any damage?