What Is a Respectful Way to Share Playground Equipment with Strangers? 

Parenting Perspective 

Public playgrounds are wonderful, dynamic spaces where children often meet and play alongside others they do not know. In this environment, disagreements can easily arise over popular items like the swings, slides, or a shared ball. Teaching your child respectful and confident ways to share in these moments is a crucial lesson in fairness, social confidence, and kindness towards others. 

Explain the Principle of a Shared Space 

Help your child to understand the fundamental rule of a public playground. You can explain, ‘Everything here at the park is for everyone to use. Taking turns fairly means that every child gets a chance to enjoy the fun.’ This simple explanation helps them to see sharing not as a personal loss, but as a natural and fair part of community play. 

Equip Them with Polite Sharing Phrases 

Give your child a few simple, ready-to-use phrases that can help them to navigate these interactions with confidence. You could practise saying: 

• ‘Would you like to have a turn when I am finished?’ 

• ‘I will just use it for two more minutes, and then it is all yours.’ 

• ‘Shall we try to play with this together?’ 

Having this language of kindness gives them the tools they need to share confidently, even with children they have never met before. 

Use Clear and Simple Turn-Taking Methods 

You can reduce the potential for conflict by using clear and impartial cues for turn-taking. Suggesting a simple timer on your phone or counting aloud to ten can create a clear and undisputed structure. These simple routines make the process of taking turns feel fair and predictable. 

Acknowledge and Praise Their Generosity 

When you see your child share well with another child, be sure to praise their behaviour. A specific and warm comment like, ‘I was so impressed with how you let that little boy use the swing when it was his turn. That showed real kindness and fairness,’ encourages them to repeat the positive behaviour. 

Lead by Your Own Example 

The most powerful teacher is your own behaviour. If another child is waiting for a piece of equipment your child is using, you can model the correct response by saying to your child, ‘It looks like this little girl is waiting for her turn. Let us give her a chance to play now.’ Your children will absorb the lessons of courtesy best when they see you practising it with them. 

By preparing your child with the right words, simple routines, and consistent encouragement, you help them to navigate the social dynamics of the playground with respect, confidence, and a spirit of kindness. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam encourages believers to show fairness, generosity, and kindness to everyone, including strangers. The simple act of sharing playground equipment respectfully is a powerful and practical way for children to live out these essential Islamic values. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hashar (59), Verse 9: 

‘…And giving preference over themselves, even though they were impecunious themselves; and whoever is salvaged from (the inherent state of) being miserly for himself, then they are the victorious.’ 

This beautiful verse shows that giving preference to others, even in small matters like sharing a piece of play equipment, is a sign of a successful and generous believer. It is an act of overcoming one’s own desires for the comfort of another. 

It is recorded in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 66, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.’ 

This foundational hadith is a perfect guide for playground etiquette. It reminds children that the truest way to act is to treat others as they themselves would love to be treated, which means sharing toys and equipment fairly and with a generous spirit. 

When children learn to share playground equipment respectfully with strangers, they are not only practising good manners but are also nurturing the virtues of humility and generosity. These small habits help them to grow into individuals who spread fairness and kindness, reflecting the prophetic spirit of caring for others in every community they are a part of.