Social Growth in Young Children

Your preschooler will learn a lot about themselves and how to communicate with others during this time.

Your youngster will become lot less egotistical after they become three years old. Additionally, they will depend less on you, an indication that their sense of self is more solid and secure. Instead of just playing alongside one another, they will now interact while playing with other kids. They will come to understand that not everyone thinks the same way they do and that each of their playmates has a variety of distinctive features, some of which are beautiful and others which are not. Additionally, you’ll notice that your youngster is gravitating toward particular kids and forming bonds with them.

Children learn that they too have unique features that make us like us as they develop these friendships, which is a crucial boost to self-esteem.

More positive news regarding your child’s growth at this stage: When playing with her pals, they will eventually cease competing and learn to work together as they become more conscious of and sensitive to the feelings and behaviours of others. In small groups, they take turns sharing toys, though occasionally they won’t. But most of the time they’ll really ask respectfully for something rather than grasping, complaining, or yelling for it. You might anticipate less aggressive behaviour and more tranquil playtime. Children as young as three can resolve conflicts by trading toys or taking turns.

Gaining cooperation skills

However, you’ll need to promote this cooperation, especially at first. For instance, you can advise them to “use their words” as opposed to acting out while dealing with issues. Additionally, tell them that each kid gets an equal turn when two kids are sharing a toy. When your child and another youngster want the same toy, suggest easy solutions such as sketching for the first turn or choosing another toy or activity. Although it doesn’t always work, it’s worth a go. Additionally, provide kids the right language to use when expressing their emotions and wants to prevent them from getting irritated. Above all, lead by example and demonstrate how to resolve disputes amicably.

When frustration or rage manifests physically

No matter what you do, your child’s anger or frustration will undoubtedly occasionally manifest itself physically. When that occurs, keep them from hurting other people, and if they don’t settle down right immediately, remove them from the vicinity of the other kids. Discuss her feelings with them and try to figure out why they’re so upset. The best way to express these emotions is not by physically hurting another child, so be sure to let them know you understand and respect her sentiments.

Saying sorry

Remind them about a time when someone smacked or yelled at them in order to help them see the problem from the perspective of the other child, and then propose more peaceful methods to settle their disputes. Finally, remind them to apologise to the other child once they have realised what they have done wrong—not before. However, just expressing “I’m sorry” won’t necessarily help your child change their conduct; they also need to understand why they’re making the apology. They might not comprehend right away, but give it some time; by the time they are four, these explanations will start to make sense.

Imaginative play

Fortunately, three-year-olds’ typical interests prevent most disputes from occurring. They spend a large portion of their playtime engaging in imaginative play, which is typically more cooperative than play that is centred on toys or games. Preschoolers enjoy dividing up the roles in sophisticated pretend games utilising household or fictional objects, as you’ve probably already noticed. Important social skills like taking turns, paying attention, communicating (through actions and expressions as well as words), and reacting to one another’s actions are all developed through this kind of play. Another advantage of pretend play is that it allows kids to assume any role they want, such as the fairy godmother or a superhero, which allows them to explore more nuanced social concepts. Additionally, it enhances executive functioning, including problem-solving.