| Humans are social animals. For many thousands of | | | | The second reason for getting your toddler involved in |
| years, as we lived and worked in tribal societies, every | | | | playgroups is that being around other young children |
| toddler had ample opportunity to be social with the | | | | creates confidence and sense of security while in a |
| people around him. Learning and playing went hand in | | | | group. Your child will not only interact personally with |
| hand and all young children participated in tribal events | | | | the other children, but will have the opportunity to make |
| and group socializing. It is only in the modern world, | | | | observations of the activity that surrounds them. |
| when we have lost the 'village' and fractured into | | | | Watching other kids playing or learning can give your |
| single-family units that our children do not get adequate | | | | child ideas - how to solve problems, how to make |
| socialization. In today's busy world we use playgroups, | | | | friends, share etc. This type of socializing is critical for |
| playdates and kid's activities to give our toddlers get a | | | | development, but perhaps more importantly, it is fun for |
| chance to learn interaction and social manners and | | | | your child. Studies have proven that children who are |
| behaviors. | | | | regularly exposed to kid's activities, events or |
| There are two key reasons for getting your toddler | | | | playdates are better adjusted and better behaved |
| involved in playgroups. The first is to expose them to | | | | overall. |
| other young children. When children are playing | | | | If you want your toddler to be more social, playgroups, |
| together in a group, they are automatically and | | | | playdates and events where other young children are |
| sub-consciously learning from each other. Kid's | | | | present are a good way to accomplish it. Learning to |
| activities, special events and playdates are all | | | | play well with others is a critical part of human |
| opportunities for socializing with kids from a variety of | | | | development and the skills gained while playing and |
| backgrounds and cultural situations. Through social | | | | learning will pay great dividends later in life. As adults |
| interaction your child will learn how to relate and | | | | we sometimes look at socializing as something |
| effectively 'deal' with children of their own age. Too | | | | frivolous - something for our spare time. For toddlers, |
| often our children have social interaction only with | | | | being involved in kid's activities and spending regular |
| adults until they must go to school at which time the | | | | time with children of a similar age is a critical part of |
| culture shock is immense. | | | | development. |