Early on, babies notice the relationship between themselves and their caregivers. Infants learn to trust parents and other caregivers who provide their nourishment, keep them dry and comfort them. Later, children learn about themselves and others through both independent and group play, as well as during family time. Children need to develop a healthy self-image and to learn to respect and care for others. You can help children grow as individuals and members of a community by taking advantage of everyday teaching moments and through planned, supervised activities.
Step 1
Recognize and respect your child's stage of social development. Play is the primary means through which children learn about themselves and their environment, but young children are not developmentally ready for social play with their peers.
Children's social play develops in stages, according to child care trainer and educator Susan Jindrich. Infants enjoy playing alone or one on one with a parent or caregiver. Toddlers engage in parallel play, meaning that they enjoy playing alongside other children, but not necessarily with other children.
Preschoolers are ready to play with others, but the ability to share comes later. In order to promote an understanding of self and others, refrain from forcing children to progress through play stages before they are developmentally ready.
Step 2
Help children develop confidence in themselves. Aggression, bullying and disrespect for others typically grow from a lack of self-confidence. Social competence begins with a belief in self, according to Dr. Michele Borba, who adds that self-confidence lays the foundation for "emotional, social, academic and moral development."
Let your child hear that you know he can accomplish the task at hand, be it building a block tower, finishing a race or completing a puzzle.
Step 3
Introduce your child to different cultures and traditions to cultivate a respect for differences in herself and others. When you help children notice, accept and celebrate differences, you help "prevent prejudice and promote compassion, tolerance, and understanding," according to the National Network for Child Care.
Step 4
Teach children to express their feelings and ideas in respectful ways. You can help end a conflict between children by stepping in and offering a solution, but you help children learn to resolve conflict themselves when you guide them toward self-initiated solutions.
Rather than regulate turn-taking, "The Whole Child" program suggests that you give children the communication tools they need to get along and resolve problems.
Allow children to express their own feelings, encourage them to listen to the feelings of others and promote empathy by linking one child's experience to the experience of another child in a similar situation, adds "The Whole Child."
Step 5
Promote cooperation over competition. Games or activities that involve cooperation help children learn to care for and get along with others, according to "The Whole Child."
Encourage teamwork during clean-up time, play time and routine activities such as preparing snack or setting the table.
