connecting with children

IMPACT encourages you to connect with yourself, your friends, your family, and your community. Each month there is a different way to make a connection, and for May, the focus is on children connecting with children!
We are not meant to go through life alone. Healthy relationships and social connections are important to lifelong wellness and these interactions begin in childhood. As your child grows from a baby into a toddler and then into a teenager and finally an adult, their social networks will shift and change dramatically. Children learn by example so parents play an important role in the development of social connections.
When your child is a baby, healthy social interaction is all about attachment and bonding. Simple ways to bond can include singing, cuddling, soothing them when they cry, reading to them, eye contact, tummy time and so much more.
As your baby grows into a toddler, social connections are starting to be made outside of their primary caregivers and they start to interact with children their age through play. Toddlers will move from parallel play (beside each other without interacting), to cooperative play (small group with the same activity) to rough and tumble play (interaction, taking turns, following simple rules). In early childhood, your child will begin to identify one another as friends. Simple ways to encourage positive relationships can include setting up playdates, respecting your child’s personality and interests and modeling good friendship skills.
As your child grows into a teenager, they spend more time in their social environment. Positive friendships can provide teens with support, companionship, a sense of belonging and lay the groundwork for successful adult relationships. Simple ways to encourage positive connections can include reinforcing the values that are important to you and your family, teaching your teen the importance of being assertive when
necessary, giving your teen room to breathe, and listening first to understand their perspective.
There are various ways in our community to facilitate positive social connections for children. Family Resource Network, Wainwright Public Library, Wainwright on Wellness, Military Family Resource Network and PSP all provide great programming for babies right up through to teenagers. In addition, you can sign your child up to a sports team or have them join a club such as Brownies, Scouts, 4-H or Cadets. Even something as going to a park or campsite will allow children the opportunity to connect with other children. Close relationships are what keep people happy throughout their lives and these begin in childhood. This May, we encourage you to go ahead and Make an IMPACT With Connection!
Source: https://www.all4kids.org/news/blog/social-connection-on-child-development/