Does a One YO Need "Socialization" With Other Kids? - Page 2

[serenbat]

I have also heard about children speaking/walking sooner if they are around other kids, and I do not think that is necessarily true. I have seen too many babies who defy that 'rule'

regarding speech, I was told by a speech teacher, that being around other small children can hinders proper language skills and for some delays in talking-more of the child's day should be among adult conversation and interaction

[Ruthie's momma]

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[Ruthie's momma]

Originally Posted by briome

No Not Needed.

Children do NEED other humans of course but peer socialization is totally over stressed.
Read 'Hold onto Your Kids' for a great view on this.

[BeanyMama]

My thoughts are that social observations are beneficial to 12 month olds, but "socializing" seems a bit much.

[LROM]

A lot of people have made generalizations that simply don't hold for the majority of 12 month olds. From what I see at work and daycare (I work with families and my dd is in daycare) and what I learn from threads like this, the answer to OPs question is some combination of paying attention to your own dc's unique personality AND taking into account some trends that seem common though not applicable to ALL children.

1st off, while it may be true that 12 month olds don't "need" to play with other similar-aged babes/toddlers, it is NOT true that they only parallel play at that age. I see 12 month olds (and often younger babes) play WITH each other quite often. Maybe there's more parallel play than playing "with", but I do see the "with" all the time and for those kids it seems to be a source of both great fun and also sometimes learning at that early stage about sharing and giving opps to teach gentle touch and sharing.

2nd, it's very hard to say which kids are helped in their development of motor skills and language skills by being around other kids, and which it doesn't affect, and which it may hinder. My dd's daycare belief is that they are helped in their motor skills by being around kids who are somewhat more advanced in their skills, and so far what I see of the other babes in her classes, that is true way more often than not. Language skills I can't really tell, because everyone always says dd is super verbal anyway so don't know how other kids affect her. But because she's got advanced verbal skills (she's 15 mo now), being around teachers who are working with other kids is definitely affecting her. She often actually calls other babes in her Infant 2 class by name! She knows Chloe and Joel and Jackson and today I heard her say Elijah. Not that she couldn't learn names somehow at home, but it's clear that it's hearing those kids called by those names every day that exposed her enough to say it herself.

Overall I have come to believe very strongly, and this is my personal opinion from observing families through work and babes at daycare: it is good for ALL CHILDREN - introverts and extroverts, advanced and average and those behind on milestones - it is good for ALL CHILDREN to spend time with people other than their parents on a regular basis. Not saying parents need to leave them with others, just expose them to others while still being around when they're that young.

Because the world has other people in it, and whether you have to do it gently and in stages or your kid is comfy/happy immediately in social settings, you want your child to become at least accustomed and minimally comfortable with being around other people. Unless you plan to isolate them until adulthood, time with others on a regular basis in some form is critical to development. And to you learning more and more about your l.o. and where they are sensitive, comfy, uncomfy, scared, etc.

[newtomotherhood]

I am a horrible introvert and I want to give my DD 12 months a chance to explore new things and meet new people! So I have been going to a baby sign language class once a week, just a small group with a max of 5-6 babies whit their moms, and today I just came home from group called Giggle, Wiggle, and Munch and was surprised at how much she enjoyed it, I always thought she was extremely shy, but as it turns out strangers don't bother her as long as they stay out of her face and don't try to pick her up or hold her!(not that I blame her, I wouldn't want strangers walking up to me and picking me up) I also seems to help if they get down to her level, some people just refuse to do this and wonder why she screams when they come close!
Anyway about 3/4 through the class she started to enjoy running around with the other kids (aged 9 months to 4 years I think)! as long as no one tryed to pick her up she was fine.
I plan to continue going every week as long as she is enjoying herself even though it takes effort on my part to be social, I also need time away from home to interact with other parents!
This way her shyness can no longs be blamed on her only being around only me!

[LROM]

Giggle, Wiggle & Munch, I like it! I like it! And that's exactly what I mean about even introverted or shy (or shy-seeming) children benefit from having the chance to interact or just be around other people, whether similar ages or varied ages. Like you said, you learned that as long as no one tries to pick her up and isn't in her face, she's fine and actually ended up really enjoying it.

You're smart to start off with smaller groups if you think your child is shy. Very glad it was so much fun for her!

[peaceful_mama]

Hmmm well, I have a 5 year old child who was a one year old with no siblings and stayed with his grandparents while I worked.

I have a 3 year old who tagged along with older DS and I to playgroups of kids mostly around his age when she was one.

I have a 16 month old whose interaction with other kids is mainly his two siblings. If there are other children somewhere that we go, of course he interacts with them. But he does not go to any sort of gathering of children his age for the purpose of "socialization"

In short, at one year old NONE of my children went anywhere with the express purpose of them interacting with other one year olds.

They are all perfectly fine. So, no, I don't think it's a NEED, in fact, I think it is an unnatural environment for a one year old to spend lots of time with a large group of similarly-aged children. I mean, even in a family with cousins and stuff, you're likely only going to have 3-4 others at the most who are about the same age, even a large family....

And really, I think any child's development is enhanced further by spending time with slightly older children---like the age difference between most siblings. Siblings' friends. Children whose play and language are just a little bit above theirs, who can include them and help show them where the next level is.

[claddaghmom]

I had no idea. About this topic I mean. But I know DD has definitely played and interacted with other kids, babies and adults since a young age. I think all people can do this. Is it needed? Hmm, depends on the context I suppose.

Does your child need to be institutionalized? Heck no.

Just take the baby to the park and hang out with other kids and mamas.

[Picard]

I am no fan of the early peer socialization stance. Indeed, I often think that it has less to do with socialization than with getting used to being institutionalized (as in schools). And, frankly, I am happy for my kid to not learn this too quickly (if at all). This said, I have registered him for a gym-type class now that he is turning two, and we'll see. I admit that this has come about due to peer pressure. It actually amazes me that toddlers attend all sorts of classes and it seemed that perhaps we should try it too, just because DS is a whole lot more extroverted than we as parents are. Other than that, I listen to him. If he wants to visit our friends, we do. If he wants a play date, we arrange it. But most of our time is spent out in the parks or in the city just exploring and running errands, while talking/playing with whomever we meet.