10 Reasons Why Your Preschooler Needs Socialization

You know your preschooler is supposed to socialize, but do you know why? Here’s 10 reasons why your preschooler needs socialization, that you might not have realized.

1. TO CREATE INDEPENDENCE

Having the opportunity to create new bonds helps preschoolers ease their separation anxieties. Knowing that they can trust other people is extremely beneficial in helping your preschooler feel more comfortable leaving you to be around others.

2. TO BUILD CONFIDENCE

Everyone wants to feel like they belong, especially preschoolers, as they are just beginning to develop their self esteem. Having positive social interactions helps to boost your preschoolers self esteem, and give them the confidence to create friendships. Having even just one friend that counts on them will give your preschooler a sense of importance, and that can go a long way in building confidence.

3. TO LEARN TO SHARE

Learning to share is an extremely important part of your preschooler’s development. Sharing teaches compromise, fairness, and even negotiation skills. Besides, nobody wants to play with the kid that’s hogging all the best blocks. Your preschooler will find that their friends are happy to share with them, when they are willing to share too!

4. TO PREPARE FOR SCHOOL

Socializing is a huge part of school, and if your preschooler doesn’t have much experience in this department, they’re sure to get overwhelmed fast. If your preschooler has the chance to build up to socializing in such a large group, then it will be a lot less scary. Huge bonus if they can make friends with any of their classmates before school starts!

5. TO CONNECT WITH ADULTS

Teaching your preschooler socialization skills is important in making friends, but also important in connecting with the adults in their life. A child who isn’t comfortable speaking with adults is less likely to seek out help when it’s needed.

Try having your preschooler speak with the adults in your life as often as possible. Every time they have a positive interaction with an adult it will help build their confidence in speaking with other adults throughout their life.

6. TO LEARN RESPECT

Socializing with others is the best way to teach your preschooler to “treat others as you would like to be treated.” As they interact with others they will quickly learn that people have boundaries, and it’s important not to cross them. Even preschooler’s deserve respect, and need to know how to give it in return.

7. TO MANAGE FEELINGS

Socialization can teach your preschooler how to manage their feelings, by watching how others handle situations. If you’re at a family reunion, and your uncle Jimmy burns the hamburgers, and responds by yelling and flipping over the grill… grab some takeout on your way home while you explain to your preschooler that behavior like that isn’t healthy.

Luckily, family reunions only come around every so often, and your preschooler will have a ton of opportunities to see positive reactions to situations too. This is a great time to remember the saying, “don’t cry over a little spilled milk.”

8. TO BUILD EMPATHY

Your preschooler needs socialization in order to learn how to care about others. Creating a caring environment is an important step in teaching your preschooler about empathy. If your preschooler falls down and is crying, and their loved ones run over to help them up, they learn empathy.

Now, the next time their friend gets hurt on the playground, they reach out a helping hand.

9. TO FOCUS ACADEMICALLY

Being comfortable in a social setting can reduce your preschooler’s anxiety, allowing them to focus on learning. When your preschooler is comfortable with those around them, they are less likely to focus on possibly making a mistake and getting laughed at, and more likely to take a chance and raise their hand anyways.

10. TO HAVE FUN

Last but definitely not least… your preschooler needs socialization to create lasting memories! Without friends, who is going to dress up like a superhero with you and save the day?