The Value of Social Interaction for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Making the decision to send your child to daycare or kindergarten can be a really daunting one, especially if it’s your first child. This is all the more true in the age of COVID-19, as everyone knows that young children tend to pass around coughs and colds very easily.
However, there are also some really strong arguments for socialising your children, and one of the best ways to get an adequate amount of social time is to send them off to kindy or daycare.
What is the role of daycare in a child’s development?
One of the most critical stages of development is the exploration of social interaction and boundaries. Daycare centres can play a big role in helping to support the work you do, in a new environment outside of the home.
A young child obviously has a different relationship with their parents and siblings than they do with their friends. The new relationships they can form in the daycare setting will offer the chance for the child to develop new skills like empathy, cooperation, and communication.
Sometimes, this looks like coming up with a secret language or handshake, or offering to share a snack or favourite toy. It could also take the form of offering to sit together, or even behaviours like forming a social clique and excluding another. It’s all a part of learning!
Having the opportunity to explore those new skills, and more importantly, to get feedback and correction on when those skills are executed as good or bad behaviours can be extremely beneficial for long term development.
It is important to do this outside of the home, at least for part of the time. This is because it introduces new variables into the child’s environment, so they have new sensory experiences at the same time as learning new social skills.
For young children, the development of sensory skills is really crucial. These skills can be formed by playing with blocks, paints, dirt, sticks, or any number of different sensory tools. They can learn from their peers and discover new ways to interact with these sensory instruments, creating new connections in the brain while doing so.
How can teachers facilitate development and learning?
Most daycares will have some teaching staff, and may also have engagement with the community through having parents as volunteers. These teachers are trained early childhood educators, and know how to help manage a group of young children to keep them safe while learning away from home.
These teachers also have another essential skill set, which is that they have structured routines for supporting your child’s development, as well as helping to facilitate friendships and overcome potential conflicts.
Most conflicts at this young age can be easily overcome by independent work on social skills like empathy and cooperation. Giving your child the opportunity to work on these skills away from your influence means that they will be able to recognise when they have made a mistake, or upset someone else.
It is also a great way to allow your child the opportunity to become more confident. A qualified ECE teacher can help to give your child the chance to interact with their peers on their own, which means they will do so without the safety net of having a parent or family member close by. Daycare centres can help to create a rewarding social environment where they can freely engage with their peers.
How do you keep your child safe at daycare?
Even with all these excellent reasons for attending daycare or kindergarten, it can still be a nervous time when you’re considering sending your child away for several hours a week. Here are some pointers on how to make sure your child will be safe and sound while they’re away from you:
Visit the daycare centre before enrolling - most centres will welcome a tour of the facility before signing up, and can show you all the safety measures they have in place to keep your child from harm.
Keep your kids home if they are ill - children are often unable to keep their hands clean or to themselves, and can very easily spread illnesses around their classmates. To stop everyone from coming down with a cold or the flu, keep your kids away from daycare when they’re under the weather.
Check in regularly - if you have any questions or concerns, have a quick check in with your ECE teacher at the end of the work day!
Kiddywinkles
Kiddywinkles is a great daycare option for those in the Auckland area. They have a variety of excellent activities and rooms available to help your child develop their brain and are always open to chatting with you about safety. For more information, get in touch with a member of the friendly team today!