Mine!

Disclaimer: the statements contained in this article are the views of the writer developed over a 27 year period in childcare, early childhood education and by way of living life as a mother of 9 children. No offense is intended. Every child and parent is different and it is the view of the writer that God specifically matches each child to his parents. He will and does provide guidance to each parent as to how to best rear his or her own children by the power and direction of the Holy Ghost, if parents will seek His guidance. No counsel nor philosophy should take the place of this divine guidance.

Having said that:

There are many philosophies relative to children and their 'things'. One school of thought is that children feel comforted and gain a sense of security in possessions. When a child says: that's mine! and is able to claim physical possession of an item from another child, some believe it is a manifestation of self-affirmation and is related to the growth of confidence in the child taking the item while stating the obvious: Mine.

Especially when a child lives in a family with few sibling, this approach to child rearing may lead to a selfish child who values material possessions more than human relations. A child developing in such a small family often spends fewer hours in the company of other children, and thus has fewer opportunities to practice sharing.

When a child grows up learning that items are secondary to people, he learns to value his relationships with siblings and other children more than he values his toys/possessions. He learns to care about the feelings of the people in his life, and those who cross his path more than retaining a toy to himself. He learns sacrifice.

Teaching a child to share teaches him selflessness; a Christlike character trait.

This is not to say some special or very personally valuable items should not be cared for with special attention. However, a child, even a very young child, can understand the idea that if you don't want to share, put the item away before friends come to play. Even the young child can learn patience, as well, as he waits for, perhaps an unexpected visiting child to play with a desired item, then, when his turn comes, he may put the item away, if desired.

It is important for children to have a safe storage place of their own. A shelf, a small trunk, or even a drawer may serve as a place to keep special keepsake items. These items, though, should be special to the child for sentimental reasons. For instance, a handmade gift from a special relative or something given on the occasion of a baptism or something of that nature would be valuable, regardless of the purchase price.

Children should be taught the old Mexican philosophy: Mi case es Su casa. In the English translation: My house is your house. A child taught to open his heart to those to whom his home is also opened, is taught an important lesson in ministering to his neighbor. If Christ were to visit his home, would his parents allow him to take an item from the Savior's hand and say, 'Mine,' I ask you? Does not the scripture say: Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto Me?

This is the philosophy with which loving, giving, and self-sacrificing children are raised to adulthood; when parents teach their children to love their brother as themselves; to lay not up treasures in the earth, where moth and rust doeth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal...

Children are best served by parents who teach them to lay up treasures in heaven... for where their treasure is, there will their hearts be also.