Every parent wants their toddler to be well liked. After all, we adore them, so why shouldn’t they have tons of friends and other adoring fans? Many toddlers revel in attention and enjoy social interaction. Others prefer to explore their surroundings independently and may seem shy and quiet. Part of paving the way towards positive social experiences for your toddler is observing how different types of social settings affect him and seeking out the kinds of social experiences that he enjoys.
Play dates can be a lot of fun, but they can become overwhelming if there are too many children present. Initially, you may want to schedule play dates with just one or two other children at a time, so that the kids can get to know each other and feel comfortable playing together. When Dylan was a baby, I took him to a new mom play group at the hospital where he was born. At first it was fun, but as the babies grew it became a little crowded and difficult because some babies were starting to walk and new babies were always joining the group. Two other moms and I got our boys together for a play date, and we still get together about once a month. The boys have gotten to know each other, and they are learning how to share and interact with each other as they play.
Another fun way for toddlers to interact with other toddlers is at the playground. Soon after Dylan was able to walk, he became interested in going to the playground. Often, a trip to the playground is easier to fit into a busy day than scheduling a play date and you can even schedule playground “breaks” into a day of errands or a long car ride for a welcome opportunity for your toddler to use up some of that trademark toddler energy. The playground provides a great opportunity for toddlers to practice approaching other kids and introducing themselves as well as sharing playground equipment and taking turns.