How do I address my son's possessiveness with his things and sharing?

How do I address my son's possessiveness with his things and sharing? . Habits & Anxieties . My child is three years old and clings strongly to the things that belong to him — even his food. He won't eat if anyone has touched his plate or eaten from it, even me, his father, or his little sister. He doesn't like anyone playing with his toys at all. The criticism from those around me — their saying he's stingy — bothers me greatly, although I am trying to teach him generosity from now on without violating his rights. He also has another trait: a strong love of cleanliness and order. He doesn't like to see anything out of place. If a drop of water falls on his clothes, he cries until I change them. His little sister scatters things and he tidies up after her. I feel he's exaggerating — he's a child who should touch things to clean them, not have them come to him ready-cleaned. I try as much as possible to integrate him with other children, and I'm even glad if his clothes get dirty — sometimes I do it on purpose. He is sweet, memorizes verses and adhkar, loves performing prayer, and is a leader despite his young age. He understands things deeply, and I am very proud of him. But the painful matter is the comments of those close to him, like family. What is your advice for me? . May Allah preserve you and bless you. First, put completely out of your mind what people say and how they view your tarbiyah or your child. Embrace the particularity of your little one's character as long as what he shows distinguishes him. Rather, let his personality take its natural course without crushing his nature. Only refine it through Islam and its morals. As for generosity, it's too early to be certain about that. You can look at the sharing section in the Toddler Guide on our channel; we covered this piece in some detail. I see the possibility of teaching him sharing without forcing him to give up what he has — by introducing him to group-play environments, which build in him indirectly an acceptance of sharing with others. Especially if he finds enjoyment in those games, he'll prefer to spend his time with others. These matters come with forbearance and patience. But don't try to make your son a copy of his brother or someone else. Let your son be distinct in his characteristics — only refine them with Islam. The demand for cleanliness isn't an exaggeration. There are real personalities who love order and cleanliness, and they're grown adults — because it's something they're comfortable with, and their resolve thrives with it. Let us leave his personality the space that allows him to display the characteristics that distinguish him. In the end, how many fathers and mothers wish their little one were like yours, and may even complain of what you want to be in your little one. So care for respecting the stages of his teaching, and don't leave him to the teaching of chance ever. Care for the quality of teaching: see your son bear the fruit of your tarbawi effort, and don't worry about the rest of the details. Allah will bless you in your endeavor. We are learning in this life even at an older age, and your son has only spent three years. Life is, by Allah's leave, a journey of learning, taking from those around, and giving as well, in a process of interaction every person goes through. I note that his personality has not yet been completed — it is shaped over the first six years of his life. So care for now about role-model stories and the building of creed and character. With du'a, and glad tidings of much good, may Allah delight your eyes with your offspring and delight their eyes with you.