Dr. Cherilyn Davis (Play Builds Social Skills)
Dr. Cherilyn Davis explores how play shapes children’s social development—from babies learning cues through peekaboo to toddlers’ parallel play and preschoolers’ cooperative teamwo...
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How can social learning through play be enhanced?
Providing plenty of opportunities for play, whether it's with siblings, peers, or even adults, can enhance your child's social learning. The more social interactions your child has through play, the more they'll develop the social skills that can help them build friendships and navigate the world around them.
How does play develop social skills in babies and toddlers?
In the earliest stages, babies begin to learn about social cues through play. Simple interactions like a game of peekaboo or shared moments of eye contact, lay the foundation for building trust and understanding social boundaries. As your child moves into toddlerhood, they start engaging in parallel play, playing next to another child without much interaction, but still learning important lessons about space, possessions, and social presence.
How does play foster social development in preschoolers?
By preschool age cooperative play becomes a vital part of your child's social development. They'll start to share toys, negotiate roles, and even work together on a project like building a structure. With blocks. Through these experiences, they learn vital skills like turn-taking conflict resolution and the ability to understand the needs of others.