What do you need to know about your
preschooler's social development? As the school year starts, and your
child begins to make new friends, take a look at some of the most
common questions parents have about threeto five-year-olds,
friendships, and what to expect next.
As a toddler, your child primarily
engaged in parallel play. Even though your one- or two-year-old
played near other children, it's not likely they completely engaged
with them socially. This type of independent play near someone else
is completely normal-until your child moves into the preschool years.
While preschoolers may still play
independently near their peers, they're more likely to show interest
in others. You may notice that your preschooler:
- Plays in groups.
Preschoolers often play in peer groups where they exchange ideas,
share thoughts, negotiate conflicts, collaborate, and build
friendships.
- Has a best friend. Your
child may come home from preschool with a new best friend.
Preschoolers often choose "best friends" based on similar
interests-such as a shared love for a character from a movie or
enjoyment of the same activity.
- Ask for playdates. In the
past you arranged playdates without much interest on your child's
part. Now that they're older, they may ask you to set up these
out-of-school adventures.
A new interest in peer relationships
isn't the only social change preschoolers experience. Read on for
more information on other ways your child will develop and grow
during the pre-k years.
Your toddler wasn't empathetic. With a
limited ability to identify and understand emotions, it's not likely
your one- or two-year-old was overly sensitive to their peers' or
family members' feelings. Now that your child is older, they may:
- Demonstrate emotional
awareness. Your preschooler is aware of their new friends'
feelings and how people experience emotions. This may change how
they interact with others or handle conflict.
- Share or cooperate more often.
While preschoolers may still show some reluctance to share, they
better understand the reasoning behind this social norm.
- Comfort a friend. Your
child may respond to a peer's sadness, frustration, or anger with
comforting words or gestures (such as hugs). As your child develops
social skills and empathy, they'll use their own self-awareness to
better judge what others feel.
The ability to understand, identify,
and respond to other people's feelings won't end at the preschool
classroom door. Your child will carry this ability home, onto the
local playground, and everywhere else they go. They may even respond
to characters' emotions in books, television shows, or movies.
The older your child gets, the more
experiences they need to build social skills. This can happen
naturally or through activities you help to create, such as:
- Preschool. This early
learning experience is more than just a way for your child to build
academic skills. The opportunity to meet other children and navigate
group situations can boost your child's social skills in a way that
solitary, at-home play can't.
- Playdates. Again, your
child may suddenly start to ask for playdates with new friends.
These mini social situations provide the chance for your preschooler
to build relationships, learn how to share, and develop empathy.
- After-school activities.
After the preschool day ends (or on the weekends) you can extend the
social learning process through sports and other similar activities.
Along with peer-to-peer activities, the
time you spend with your child can also help them to develop social
abilities. Talk to your child, join them in play-time activities, and
spend time together.
Is your child ready for their first
classroom social experience? Contact us at Riviera
Children's Center Inc.
for more information.
