I have been working as a Volunteer Development Officer for the County since 2023 and have been working at our Coalville Family Hub for a year. I enjoy seeing how much the children learn and grow in such a short space of time.
We have three stay and play groups based within Northwest Leicestershire. Each Stay and Play sessions differ in their offer, but here in Coalville we typically run outdoor play, arts and crafts story time, and end with circle time with a range of songs the children whilst enjoying a fruit snack.
Building strong social skills in early childhood is essential for your child’s development, as it helps them navigate relationships, communicate effectively, and form friendships.
Person:✍️ Natalie, Volunteer Development Officer
Here are five simple activities you can do with your child to foster their social skills and create positive experiences whilst attending stay and play sessions:
1. Group Playtime
Arrange regular playdates or a stay and play session with children of a similar age. Group play helps your child learn how to share, take turns, and work in a team. It provides the perfect opportunity for them to interact with peers, develop empathy, and practice communication.
2. Role-Playing Games
Encourage your child to engage in pretend play with dolls, toys, or even just using their imagination. Pretend play allows children to explore different perspectives, improve their language, and develop problem-solving abilities. This is a wonderful way to teach them social scenarios like waiting their turn or helping others.
3. Sharing and Taking Turns
Simple games like passing a ball back and forth or playing board games teach your child how to take turns and share. Turn-taking helps them understand the importance of fairness, patience, and respect for others, which are critical elements of social interactions.
4. Storytelling
Reading stories together is a fantastic way to nurture your child’s social and language development. After reading a story, encourage your child to tell their own stories, either by using toys or drawing pictures. This builds their vocabulary, boosts creativity, and helps them express their thoughts and emotions.
5. Developing listening skills
Listening is a key social skill that can help children learn, communicate and build relationships. Our five to thrive approach- a framework to enhance awareness of five key activities for healthy brain development in babies Respond, Cuddle, (Engage) Relax, Play and Talk make it easier to encourage good listening habits.
For example, you can PLAY by playing games like Simon says to teach listening in a fun way or TALK by reading stories and having simple conversations to improve their understanding.
The stay and play sessions we run are crafted around this model to help your child develop strong listening skills, helping them to feel more confident in social situations as they learn and grow.
By engaging in these activities, your child will naturally develop the social skills they need to interact confidently with others. These experiences not only improve their communication skills but also lay the foundation for healthy relationships, helping your child grow emotionally and socially.
Why not come and try a stay and play session at your local family hub to help you encourage your child’s social skills development.