PRESCHOOL SOCIALIZATION
As a parent, you want your child to be happy and have many friends. Many parents worry about how to help their child develop heathy socialization skills. Parents are eager to assist their child in their social development. Therefore, what you should expect at each age and how you can facilitate good socialization are two questions that we will discuss in this fact sheet.
THREE -YEAR -OLD CHILDREN
Children at age three are becoming less egocentric and more aware of the people around them. They also are becoming more independent and less dependent on you. At this age they are developing a sense of their own identity. They begin to interact more and play with other children. Most children at age three can be expected to:
• Want to have friends
• Begin to share toys and take turns
• Want to help and please
• Enjoy imaginary play
• Imitate parents and friends.
• Show affection for familiar family and friends.
• Understands the idea of "mine" and "his/hers"
• Show a wide range of emotions, such as being sad, angry, happy, or bored.
As a parent you can assist the development of these social benchmarks by:
• Providing a large amount of time for informal play
• Reinforce your child when you see him/her sharing
• Giving opportunities to help you, such as setting the table
• Provide dress-up clothes and props that will encourage imaginary play
FOUR -YEAR -OLD CHILDREN
Children at age four are starting to develop a unique, recognizable personality. They get along well with other children and love to play. They are developing an extensive vocabulary and experiment with many new words. Most four-year-old children can be expected to:
• Show emotional extremes
• Demonstrate they ‘love’ one minute and ‘hate’ the next
• Show fears
• Be bold, adventurous, and sure of themselves
• Be highly imaginative
• Start tattling
• Be bossy
• Tell silly jokes
• Begin to tell lies to get out of trouble
• Have imaginary friends
A parent can assist in the development of these social benchmarks by:
• Showing understanding
• Demonstrating patience
• Offering reassurance
• Offering new challenges and praising the child’s efforts
• Use creative movement
• Encourage children to make up ‘pretend stories”
FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN
Five-year-old children are exploring friendships and social play. Their vocabulary, and physical coordination have developed and improved. Most five-year-old children can be expected to:
• Conform to groups when in childcare or social gathering with many children present
• Follow rules
• Become involved with imaginary play
• Want to please adults
• Want to be independent
A parent can assist in the development of these social benchmarks by:
• Having your child participate in the development of family rules
• Supply a variety of costumes, hats, and other objects for role playing
• Have an area for them to play such as a child’s kitchen area
• Have outdoor imaginative play areas such sand area, table and chairs, playhouse etc.
• Acknowledge and praise positive behavior
RED FLAGS
Remember that children will develop at their own pace. Each child is unique. However here are a few red flags that may show a child is struggling with healthy social development.
THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD
• Doesn’t understand simple instructions.
• Doesn’t speak in sentences.
• Doesn’t make eye contact.
• Doesn’t play pretend or make-believe.
• Doesn’t want to play with other children or with toys.
• Loses skills he once had.
FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN
• Shows no interest in interactive games or make-believe.
• Ignores other children or doesn’t respond to people outside the family.
• Doesn’t follow three-part commands.
FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN
• Doesn’t show a wide range of emotions.
• Shows extreme behavior such as unusually fearful, aggressive, shy or sad.
• Unusually withdrawn and not active.
• Doesn’t respond to people or responds only superficially.
• Can't tell what’s real and what’s make-believe.
• Doesn’t play a variety of games and activities.
As we have stated, children develop differently and at their own pace. If you notice that your child is displaying any of the above red flags, don’t jump to conclusions or ‘diagnose’ the child yourself. If you have concerns, consult with your pediatrician for some assistance. Your pediatrician will be able to make referrals and guide you to helping get your child ready for school.
Know that as a parent, providing a safe, warm and caring environment will build your child’s self-esteem and assist in developing healthy social skills.
Resources
Helpmegrowmn.org
Webmed.com