Teaching Social Skills to Your Toddler: What to Expect
When your toddler runs up to another child, grabs a toy, and runs off laughing—you may wonder, “Is that normal?” Absolutely! Learning social skills is a major milestone for every toddler.
As Jamaican parents, we often focus on walking, talking, and eating. But your toddler’s ability to relate to others is just as important. In this post, we’ll explore what social development looks like from 1 to 5 years old, how to teach these skills at home, and how to handle common challenges.
Why Social Skills Matter
Social skills help toddlers connect with others. These skills are the foundation for building friendships, working in teams, solving problems, and expressing feelings.
Strong social development leads to:
- Better communication
- Emotional control
- Empathy
- Confidence
Children who learn social skills early tend to adjust better in daycare, school, and life in general.
What Are Social Skills for Toddlers?
Social skills are not just about saying “please” and “thank you.” They include:
- Making eye contact
- Listening and responding
- Sharing and taking turns
- Following rules
- Recognizing emotions in themselves and others
- Playing cooperatively
Each toddler develops these skills at their own pace. Your job is to model, guide, and support.
Social Milestones by Age
Let’s look at what to expect as your child grows.
12 to 18 Months
- Smiles and laughs when interacting with others
- Enjoys watching other children
- Shows distress when a caregiver leaves
- Begins to imitate simple actions (waving, clapping)
18 to 24 Months
- Shows interest in other kids, but mostly plays alongside (parallel play)
- Imitates adults and older children
- Offers toys to others, even if not ready to share
- Uses simple words to express wants and feelings
2 to 3 Years
- Starts to play with others, not just near them
- Understands “mine” and “yours” (and may test these boundaries!)
- Uses more words to express thoughts
- Begins to understand rules, but may not always follow them
3 to 4 Years
- Engages in pretend play with others
- Starts taking turns (with reminders)
- Talks about feelings and begins to recognize them in others
- Enjoys group activities like songs or games
4 to 5 Years
- Follows more complex social rules
- Can compromise or negotiate during play
- Recognizes fairness and can express empathy
- Forms early friendships and prefers certain playmates
How to Teach Social Skills at Home
You are your child’s first teacher. Here’s how you can teach social skills in everyday moments:
1. Model the Behavior
Kids copy what they see. Show kindness, respect, and patience in your own interactions.
Say: “Excuse me” and “thank you” often around your child.
2. Encourage Play
Play is how toddlers learn social rules.
Ideas:
- Invite cousins or neighbors for playdates
- Let them play in groups at the park or church
- Use simple games like “Follow the Leader” or “Ring Games”
3. Teach Empathy
Talk about feelings. Use real situations and books.
Ask: “How do you think she felt when he took her toy?”
4. Practice Sharing and Taking Turns
It won’t come naturally at first. Start with small tasks.
Try: “It’s your turn with the blocks, then your sister’s turn.”
5. Use Praise
Catch your child showing kindness or cooperation. Praise specific behaviors.
Say: “You waited so nicely for your turn! Great job!”
6. Set Boundaries
Teach your child what is and isn’t okay. Be consistent.
Explain: “We don’t hit when we’re upset. We use words.”
7. Role Play
Act out scenarios with toys or puppets.
Example: Show how to greet someone, ask to play, or say sorry.
Common Social Challenges in Toddlers
Even with your best efforts, challenges will come. That’s part of learning.
1. Biting or Hitting
This often happens when toddlers can’t express themselves.
Response: Stay calm. Say, “No biting. Biting hurts.” Offer words they can use instead.
2. Refusing to Share
Totally normal—toddlers are still learning.
Tip: Don’t force sharing. Instead, talk about taking turns and set timers to help.
3. Tantrums in Group Settings
Large groups can overwhelm toddlers.
Help: Give them a break. Use calming strategies like deep breathing or a quiet space.
4. Clinginess
Your child may only want to play with you.
Try: Gradual exposure to group settings. Start small and praise their efforts.
How Jamaican Parents Can Support Social Learning
Jamaican parenting comes with unique challenges and strengths. Here’s how to adapt social teaching to fit your lifestyle.
Use Your Community
Grandparents, cousins, church members—all can help. Let your toddler build relationships with trusted adults and kids.
Involve Older Siblings
Siblings teach a lot about patience, sharing, and cooperation. Include them in games and routines.
Balance Structure and Flexibility
Jamaican culture loves spontaneity, but toddlers thrive on structure too. Keep some routines predictable, like bedtime or mealtimes.
Handle Cultural Expectations
You may hear, “Mi did know how fi behave from mi a yute!”
Remind them: Times have changed. Toddlers today need patience and guidance.
How Daycare Can Support Social Development
At Sun City Wonderland Daycare, we understand the importance of social growth. That’s why our program includes:
- Group play and interactive games
- Emotion recognition activities
- Daily circle time for sharing and storytelling
- Kindness charts and reward systems
- Supervised play to teach fairness and friendship
We also communicate with parents, so you’re always in the loop.
Activities That Boost Social Skills
Try these fun, Jamaican-friendly activities at home:
1. “Feelings” Flashcards
Draw happy, sad, angry, and excited faces. Let your child guess each one.
2. “Pass the Ball” Game
Sit in a circle and pass the ball while saying kind words.
3. “Pretend Shop”
Use fake money and items to practice conversations and manners.
4. Story Time with Questions
After reading a story, ask about the characters’ actions and feelings.
5. House Chores Together
Let your child help sweep, fold laundry, or wipe tables. It builds teamwork and responsibility.
When to Seek Help
Most delays are nothing to worry about. But talk to your pediatrician if:
- Your child avoids other children entirely
- They don’t make eye contact or respond to their name
- They have extreme difficulty understanding emotions
- Aggression or tantrums are frequent and intense
Early intervention can make a big difference.
Final Thoughts: Social Skills Are Learned, Not Inborn
Your toddler isn’t born knowing how to share or say sorry. These are skills they learn from watching, practicing, and growing.
Celebrate progress—even small things like saying “hi” or letting someone else have a turn. Be patient. Stay consistent. And most of all, show love.
You are your child’s first best friend. Every hug, every story, every game is a step toward confident, caring social development.
Ready to Help Your Toddler Shine Socially?
At Sun City Wonderland Daycare in Ocho Rios, we help toddlers become kind, confident kids.
Call or WhatsApp us at (876) 847-2966, email us at suncitywonderland876@gmail.com, or visit suncitywonderland.com and click the “enroll now” button to register.
Let’s raise little ones who love, lead, and laugh together.
