We’re sure many of you have heard of “play dates” – a fancy way of saying let’s get the kids together to play for a while. They can be as simple as a casual short meeting with other children in a park to a scheduled time to go to a neighbor’s home. Whatever you feel comfortable with and have time for, just remember a little socialization time can have tremendous benefits for your child.
Socialization skills really start coming into play when a child is around three years old. Prior to this they are egocentric and are only interested in having their needs met. As they grow the play becomes more parallel – meaning they play near, but not actually with, another child.
Socialization begins by simply being able to ask another child to play. This may seem like a daunting task in a daycare setting where all the children are trying to get their own way. But when you let your child get together with one or two children outside of school, they can work on their sharing and cooperation skills in a more casual atmosphere and gain more confidence. This will carry over to the school environment.
So the next time your child is invited to a play date, why not go for a little while? This is especially true of children who stay at home. As a parent or caregiver, you may find a few new friends too!
~ Jackie & Jo-Jo
