Social Needs of Toddlers

Toddlers’ speech is developing rapidly. They are learning a few new words a day. Caregivers should listen carefully and with interest to what toddlers have to say, repeating and expanding their messages.

"Yes, dog. That is a big, brown dog laying under the the picnic table."

You should realize that toddlers do not always understand verbal messages. They depend more upon modeling, practice, and familiar routines to understand appropriate behaviors and expectations.

"I like can put my shoes next to the door just like this. I have two shoes here; one shoe, two shoes."

Toddlers are increasingly interested in their peers and often play beside their friends rather than with them. You will need to teach and model the interactions with the others that you want them to develop, like sharing and taking turns. It is not developmentally appropriate to expect toddlers to actually share or take turns. Nevertheless, your job is to model, model, model.

"I have two cars, Jason. Would you like to choose a car and play with me? Would you like the red one or the blue one?"

To meet the social needs of toddlers, make sure you:

• Talk, sing, and play with each child daily on a one-to-one basis and in small groups
• Respond and expand upon emergent language coming from the child
• Interpret their actions to other children to help them get along in the group (“Gloria had the drum first. Would you like to try the guitar?”)
• Show toddlers how to clean up after themselves and help others as well
• Assist toddlers in social interactions. (“Tyrell is playing with the blue ball. Let's ask him if we can play, too”)
• Step in quickly when there are disputes so that you can provide information, solve problems, or redirect children to new activities
• Display the play materials down low and offer kid sized supplies to encourage the development of independence and competence
• Model taking turns (make sure you provide more than one of many play materials and equipment)

Related training:
Strategies for Teaching Social and Emotional Development - 2 hours
10 Hours Enhancement of Social and Emotional Development
Stages of Cognitive Development in Toddlers (1 hour / .1 CEU)