Those First Months
Infants begin developing social skills by studying the faces around them. Most babies are fascinated by faces, attracted most to those of people who smile at them. Babies prefer to look at happy faces, and at people who make direct eye contact with them. This is an infant's first step toward reading and interpreting facial expressions. Your baby learns to smile by watching you smile. When you smile back, you're encouraging her to interact with you. You can help your baby develop socially by giving her plenty of love and affection. Those cooing and babbling sounds she makes are another aspect of her early socialization. Talk to your baby often. Keep in mind she is learning from everything she sees and hears. The findings of research studies cited by Parenting Science suggest that infants are born with certain social abilities. Studies show that a newborn can recognize his mother's voice immediately, as well as imitate facial expressions within days of birth. Taking every opportunity to connect with your baby can help him develop the social skills he'ill need to interact with others.
After 6 Months
Even though babies are too young to play with other children, they like to watch them play. Around six months old, babies begin to develop their own identities. Most babies experience some degree of stranger and separation anxiety during this stage. However, this eventually passes, and your baby becomes less shy. Keep in mind that like adults, babies have unique personalities. Some babies are born extroverts, not wanting to miss anything that goes on around them. Other babies respond more readily to people with soft voices and gentle ways. But just because a baby may be reserved does not mean that she won't learn to interact socially with others. Babies with this type of personality generally do better in smaller, more nurturing social environments surrounded by playmates who have similar temperaments. As your child grows more confident in the presence of others, you can ease her into new situations in which she may find herself among a larger group.
Role of Play
Playing with your baby provides her with opportunities to interact. Once she's old enough to begin playing with other children, your baby starts to learn social skills as she feels increasingly comfortable in her environment. Joining a play group is one way to provide your child with the opportunity to relate to other babies her own age.
Have realistic expectations for your baby's behavior toward others during that first year. Your child will not develop social skills, such as sharing and taking turns, until a later age. Remember that facial expressions continue to play a major role in teaching children how to recognize basic emotions, even during play. Laughing and smiling are a part of play, which teach children about positive emotions they can feel when interacting with others.
