Two children playing in the garden.

Did you know that social development is linked to several other aspects of your child’s overall development? This is why it’s crucial to begin socialization with other children at an early age. Interaction will help your child in developing their sense of self. The current pandemic has made social distancing a norm across the world, and this has affected children the most. As a parent, it’s important to ensure that your child socializes safely to help boost their growth and development. 

Understand Their Emotions

Remember, socialization isn’t only about playing games with other children. It’s about them being able to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Many times we tend to overlook our child’s emotions or consider them to be not as important as compared to ours. This needs to change. Your child should feel seen and heard in all situations. Take time to talk to your children and listen to what they have to say. Acknowledge their efforts and communication so that they feel appreciated and continue to do so. You can begin by sharing your emotions, like “I'm feeling happy today, how are you feeling today?” This will give them the confidence to share their feelings and form a stronger parent-child bond.

Encourage Them to Ask Questions

Sometimes children can get nervous asking questions in a crowd or alone as they’re often worried about what their peers might think. This then leads to them becoming introverted adults. Make sure to encourage your children to ask questions whenever they’re in doubt. Remember, the more questions they ask, the more confidence they’ll gain.

Take Small Steps

Your child may take time to open up in new surroundings. Don’t be hard on them; instead, understand that small steps matter. Start with calling one friend over and then slowly encouraging playgroups. This way, your child will take time to get familiar with the surroundings and not get too overwhelmed.

Totally MOM-sense is an online platform that connects all moms who experience similar challenges and provide helpful tips and advice. Whether you’re worried about your newborn not sleeping at night, balancing mom and work life, learning activities or even cognitive development activities for your child—you’ll find it all here. Check out our blogs today for more information or download free printables.