Children reach several important milestones during their toddler years. In addition to learning basic cognition, motor coordination, and adaptive behaviors, they also build social skills, including the ability to interact with peers, teachers, and parents. Here's how socialization in early childhood development can benefit kids between the ages of one and three. 

4 Ways Socialization Helps Toddlers

1. Cooperate With Others

Young children typically learn socialization through group activities, such as role-playing, putting together puzzles, and making collaborative artwork. While working and playing with others, your kids will learn how to share toys, take turns, and work toward common goals. Cooperation and teamwork through early childhood socialization can help your kids succeed in group settings throughout preschool, kindergarten, and grade school.

2. Make Friends 

Socialization teaches kids how to interact with one another in a respectful and acceptable manner. This helps children make friends and build supportive bonds with classmates, which can boost confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, having good friends can result in better academic performance and decreased behavioral problems.

3. Show Empathy  

As children learn how to understand and manage their own feelings during their toddler years, they'll have greater comprehension and compassion for the feelings of others. When children develop empathy, they become more sensitive to the needs of others. As a result, they'll know how to avoid hurting others' feelings and stay out of conflicts. 

4. Learn Conversational Rules

While playing with others and participating in preschool activities during early childhood development, kids will learn basic conversational skills. These include making eye contact and greeting others by saying hello or waving. 

Socialization also includes learning how to choose appropriate conversational topics based on common interests and ask follow-up questions to keep conversations going. Children who have a good grasp of conversational rules may have an easier time making friends. Additionally, they might also find it easier to communicate with teachers and feel more comfortable asking questions.

Help your kids build social skills and make friends by enrolling them in Sugar N Spice Day Care & Kindergarten. This learning center offers child care and academic programs to children between the ages of six weeks and five years in Hoover, AL. Call (205) 822-8581 to sign your kids up for daycare or preschool, and visit the website to learn more about the importance of early childhood development.