To Children, Playing Can Be Fun - Getting Along, Not So Much

"Mommy, why do I have to be nice to Johnny when he acts so mean to me?" "Natalie is so nice and she always shares things with me, do I have to play with Johnny when I know he doesn't like me and even hits me sometimes?" As a parent you can probably relate to questions along these lines asked by your little one on a daily basis. Your child's social skills and how he relates to others is a reflection of the influence parents have on their children. As children mature they begin to realize that the quality and endurance of their relationships depends largely on the type of social skills learned and refined during their early childhood years.
 
In my article "Children and Valuable Life Skills Revealed by Doing Jigsaw Puzzles", I pointed out certain life skills such as patience, persistence and self-worth, but neglected to mention the importance of developing proper social skills such as getting along with others. Playtime is the ideal time to start teaching your little acceptable social skills and how to deal effectively with their playmates. Much of the child's behavior is learned, for example, but verbal reinforcement is necessary, since not everyone learns acceptable behavior. What social skills, you can teach your baby to this world a better place? Consider the following:

1. Teach your children how their fellow players, even those who do not like easy. Teach them to be kind. Show themthat anyone can like someone who likes them back and to remember, it is the playmate that is hard to love that usually needs affection and acceptance the most.
2. Teach your little one to respond to their playmate without violence, hitting or biting even when your little's ones playmate is aggressive Teach them to turn the other cheek and that "tit for tat" is not acceptable.
3. Teach your little one to treat others as they would like to be treated. Societies throughout the world promote the Golden Rule and realize how essential it is to maintaining a civilized society.
4. Teach your little one that first impressions could be misleading and not to judge their playmates when their behavior is not acceptable. Everyone has a bad day at times and others are just shy and need to be brought out of their shell. Teach your little one the importance of getting to know someone from the inside out.
5. Teach your little one that everyone makes mistakes and the importance of forgiveness. If your little one is the offender, teach him to genuinely say "I'm sorry".
6. Teach your little one to share with his playmates. Help them to understand that life is not "all about me"; it's about giving and sharing.

As an author, my primary focus is to provide information about educational toys but I would be remiss if I neglected to mention the importance of proper social skills and how to apply them during play. My expertise is not in psychology but I am quick to mention that I am an expert at being a mother; much like the expert that you will become after you have parented your children for a number of years. Teach your child the basic social skills with continuous love and effort. Wait patiently...you will reap the reward of your endeavor when your little one has grown up and exemplifies an inward character that is sure to shine.