At age three, your child takes a huge leap into the world of socialization. When children this age are exposed to social opportunities, they will most naturally gravitate toward social play. It is the role of the parent and caregivers to help “coach” their child through social interactions when needed. Parents and adults need to give their child the words to join into play and give her options about how to resolve conflicts.
Starting to learn these skills now will help promote self-confidence in your child and make her feel positive about playing with other children. During this time, your child will also start developing a sense of humor and the ability to show empathy for others.
When your child was younger she would look to you for guidance about how to deal with social situations with friends. As children get older, they become more confident and independent and less dependent on others to work through social events.
Help your child understand empathy for others by modeling empathy and pointing out situations that call for empathy. If you and your child see someone getting hurt on TV, talk with your child about how that person must feel. Read books about characters showing empathy and helping to find solutions for another character’s problem. And encourage your child to interact with family members, peers, caregivers, and teachers.
