Child Stages: Social Development in Young Children - Child Development

Social Development

Newborn to 1 month
Newborns begin to smile in their first month. The first smile you see may well be while your baby is sleeping, but by the end of the first month, you will likely find yourself rewarded with smiles specifically directed at you.

6 to 9 months
Along with an increased awareness of their surroundings, some infants this age also develop what is commonly referred to as stranger anxiety. While some 6- to 9-month-olds start showing increased fear of strangers and distress when their parents leave the room, others may not react this way until well after their first birthday.

While such reactions are embarrassing to some parents, you should instead consider your baby's actions to be a normal and healthy — albeit frustrating — part of growing up.

12 to 18 months
Kids begin to explore independently. Being a 12- to 15-month-old typically involves beginning to venture out on one's own more. Toddlers at this age often feel comfortable exploring away from their parents when in familiar surroundings. That's not to say that some don't still show signs of stranger anxiety and a strong affinity for their parents, but rest assured that this phase of development will soon give way to more independent exploration in the months to come, if it hasn't already.

As your toddler becomes more independent, don't be surprised if she also develops an attachment to a comfort object, something that gives her a constant sense of security.

18 to 24 months
At this age, toddlers learn to deal with new emotions. Many 18- to 24-month-olds show anxiety around other toddlers, especially if they are unfamiliar, and also become anxious in anticipation of unpleasant events. And while temper tantrums are not necessarily a new phenomenon at this age, toddlers often perfect them as they approach 2 years of age.

2 years
The typical 2-year-old has also learned how to soothe himself and starts to become more aware of other people's emotions, reacting to anger and affection among other family members.

One major area of social development is playing. Play is an important way for your toddler to try out new skills and imitate the things she sees around her. Through some kinds of games — such as puzzles and shape sorters — they refine their developing motor skills. Through others — games of pretend with dolls and other children — they sort out emotional conflicts and make sense of their place in the world.

Most 2-year-old toddlers engage in what is known as parallel play. They stay close together and imitate each other, but their actual interactions are limited. Even if there seems to be little give-and-take in these sessions, they are valuable because they lay the groundwork for later, more cooperative play.

If your child is not regularly exposed to other children in a play group or day care setting, now is a good time to build his circle of friends. As you do so, aim to keep organized playtime short (an hour or so for younger toddlers; two hours for older ones) and be prepared for more than a little pushing, shoving, and grabbing of toys. These struggles are not necessarily hostile; toddlers have a limited range of social behavior, but they usually manage to work things out without much interference from parents — and learn valuable skills in the process.

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3 years
While attending to the physical care of your preschooler, you will also find she thrives on a great deal of emotional and intellectual nourishment, and much of this comes from play. While manipulating simple household objects such as cardboard tubes and empty cartons, children give themselves valuable lessons in counting, cause and effect, and problem solving. And by finding new purposes for ordinary objects, they learn to think creatively.

4 years
Between 3 and 4 years of age, children make a big transition when it comes to play, moving away from parallel play towards a much more interactive form of play with others. When engaging in pretend play with other children, your child will learn about cooperation and sharing.

Role-playing is an important way for preschoolers to attempt to understand the adult world. Talking aloud as they direct their own actions or those of other children is a way of sharpening their language skills. Devising their own pastimes and accomplishing the tasks they set forth for themselves are real confidence builders.

Play also affords children the opportunity to act out their feelings. Young preschoolers often act out common household scenes. A parent's role in play begins with offering a variety of experiences. Outings as simple as a trip to the post office can be a source of fascination to a preschooler.

Even more important is your participation in your child's games. If you suggest a tea party, for example, and hold a cup to the doll's mouth, the child is likely to mimic you, then go on from there. Your praise of your child's efforts is very important. Display their creations whenever possible, whether by magnet on the refrigerator or framed and hung on the wall.

5 years
At 5 years old, your child might start school. Adjusting to kindergarten and all that goes along with school is perhaps one of the biggest accomplishments of most 5-year-olds.

6 years
While some 6-year-olds are just preparing to enter kindergarten, the majority have successfully adjusted to "real" school and are now ready to conquer first grade as they thrive on new friendships, figure out how the world works, and become independent.

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