Three Ways to Build Social Skills with Toddlers
As children develop a growing sense of the world around them, it is important to socialize them with other toddlers. They are taking in everything around them. Like little sponges, they soak up everything. Just as they learn the proper manners for the dinner table by eating dinner with a family, they learn the way to treat others by socializing with their peers. This happens somewhat naturally for children who go to daycare or preschool, but even if you are a stay at home mom, there are many ways that you can provide opportunities for your toddler to socialize and learn to play well with others.Playgroups
Joining a playgroup is a great way to help your toddler build social skills. There are all kinds of playgroups out there, with all kinds of different focuses. Meetup.com allows you to search for "moms" groups or "playgroups" in your area. There are "Hip Mama" groups that offer a variety of activities, from playgroups to activities just for moms.
I have been involved in a Hip Mama Meetup group for about a year and a half and the benefits have been innumerable. Some months, there is something on the calendar everything single day. It doesn't mean that I have to go to everything, but it gives me some great options of variety for our schedule. My 2-year-old son gets excited about seeing his friends. He has learned what it is like to truly care about people outside of his family.
There are also other ways to find playgroups. You can try the MOMS Club or just do a Google search for toddler groups in your area.
Benefits of Playgroups:
- Long-term friends can be made, both for mom and for kids.
- Schedules often include lots of activities with variety and flexibility in scheduling
- Activities are often free or very cheap.
Downsides of Playgroups:
- Lack of structure sometimes leads to flakiness.
- Fights or arguments do sometimes happen.
- Children in your local playgroups may not be in the same exact age range as your child.
Classes
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