My 2-year-old son recently left his old daycare. It was a daycare for children age newborn to 2.5 years. He is almost 2 1/2 so we moved him to an affliated school, which is more like a preschool setting. He was very happy at his old school. He was the teachers' pet and during recess, he would hang around the teachers instead of play with the other kids. He is an only child and I think he is just used to interacting with adults more so than other kids. At the new school, the teachers supervise the kids at recess, but they don't really play or interact with them, like they did at the old school. Most of the kids, who range in age from 2.5 to 5, play with each other or do alone activities - ride bikes, etc. I would like to help my son learn how to make friends. I am not sure 2.5 year olds really interact on a friend level, but I want him to learn how to socialize with other kids in the class. Overall, his personality is out-going and extroverted. I am going to start inviting some of the kids in the class over for playdates. I will talk to my son about what it means to "make friends." If you have any other suggestions, I would love to hear them. I think if he has some friends at his new school, he will adjust more quickly. Thanks for your help!
L., I would try to play together with the friends when they come over for a play date, but just for a little bit. Give him examples of the language to use: this is a great truck, it makes neat noises, would you like to play race cars, would you like to play fireman?
Just demonstrate then step aside.
Good Luck, M.
I found that the biggest obstacle my child had was remembering people's names. It really frustrated him. So I offered to help in the classroom. By doing so I learned the other kids names and repeated them often enough during the class that he was able to learn them all pretty quickly. I would also encourage you to talk with the teachers...at my son's preschool the teachers didn't really play with the kids either but they REALLY encouraged the kids to help eachother (i.e. I'll push you on the swings if you push me...). It was truly an amazing thing to watch and everyone would fight to help push their friends on the swings! It was cool!
I think the playdate is a GREAT idea! He'll think you are a cool mom (and so will the others) ;)
L., my son is 3 and is just now really starting to play a little bit with others - for the most part up till now he really more like played "alongside" others...mostly when we have his friends over now, he plays with his toys like always but he talks to his friends and shows them "how" to play with his toys. the main thing at this age is to make sure he knows how to share, and how to treat his friends. i would not stress about him making friends - being in a daycare setting is great for that. some kids/people are just more outgoing than others. as a very shy/quiet person raising a son that's turning out to be, just because he isn't surrounded by friends doesn't necessarily mean he's unhappy, either. it's probably good that the teachers don't show him as much singular attention, it will encourage him to make friends on his own. a conversation is always a great way to teach and i think that talking to him about how we treat people, and what a friend does, is a great idea. good luck, he's still so little i am sure he will adjust great.
