During the first few years of life, little ones actively seek relationships and social experiences – not just with their caregivers, but also with their peers! The early relationships and friendships that children form become the foundation for later social interactions with peers in elementary school and beyond. In this article, we explore the importance of relationships during the infant and toddler years, and share some tips caregivers and educators can use to support connection-building skills among these littlest learners.
Social experiences during the infant and toddler years set the stage for later friendships and peer relationships. Early interactions introduce children to important social skills like sharing, turn-taking, empathy, and back-and-forth conversation. As children get older, their earliest relationships will become a source of self-esteem that reinforces their sense of belonging.
Infants and toddlers enjoy and often seek out opportunities to interact with, and alongside, children of the same age. Their play, laughter and shared experiences promote engagement in the classroom and support their learning and development.
Infants and toddlers express their desire to connect with each other in a variety of ways. As educators, we can be most supportive when we are able to recognize the signs that these youngest learners are seeking peer interaction.
In an article for NAEYC’s Young Children Magazine, ECE researcher, educator, and program director, Tracy Redman, explains that infants and toddlers attempt to initiate interactions with peers in a variety of ways:
When early education and care providers observe these infant and toddler behaviors, they can provide encouragement and support by acknowledging the child’s efforts. For example, you might say something like “Ryan, I notice you are watching Grace play with those blocks. I’m wondering if you are interested in playing with the blocks too.”
In addition to acknowledging efforts to connect, educators and care providers can support early peer relationships by providing guidance and scaffolding to the infants and toddlers in their care. Below are some helpful tips for providing that early scaffolding.
Large, open-ended items for play such as empty cardboard boxes, pillows, and cushions give children a fun opportunity to practice social interactions with their peers. For example, you might offer children a large cardboard box with some crayons for children to color, create, and explore. Through this experience, children will practice sharing and taking turns, as they work together to make room for peers to join in the activity together. They also will have a chance to practice problem-solving skills if conflicts arise while the children are all playing together.
Relationship difficulties and conflicts can become teachable moments for infants and toddlers. An article from the American Academy of Pediatrics explains, “Even from the very start, children get very angry with friends. This gives you the opportunity to teach how to…express anger without verbally or physically hurting others.” In these moments we can support children by acknowledging their feelings and setting healthy boundaries that will help them communicate their experiences.
For example, if a disagreement emerges while two children are playing with the same toy, you might say something like, “I notice you’re getting frustrated about having to share that toy. It’s okay to be upset, but it’s not okay to hit each other. That hurts.” These interactions show children a way to practice regulating themselves so they can interact with their peers in a healthy way.
Each child is born with a different personality type or temperament. This means that certain activities and settings will be more comfortable for some children than others. Some children might enjoy dancing to loud music, while others might be overwhelmed by the noise and prefer a more quiet activity. As we support early relationship building, it is important to consider differences in personalities and preferences that might impact the types of play that a particular child finds comfortable.
For example, some children are slower to warm up, while others can jump right into a social interaction. For those who are slow to warm up, it is helpful to provide them with the space to feel safe and comfortable before initiating an interaction with a peer. Additionally, some children prefer high-activity play experiences, while others prefer something more quiet. Consider bringing a group of the higher-activity children out for play time together so that they can engage in more energetic activities while the other children enjoy something quieter, such as an art project.
