When your child begins attending a childcare centre, they will begin to learn many important skills and concepts to support them at childcare, in school, and beyond.
Childcare is a great place for your child to develop social skills that will help them build friendships, communicate with others, and practise conflict resolution. Learning social skills at childcare can enhance your child’s overall wellbeing and development!
To help you understand the role of childcare in social development, here’s how children can develop social skills in a childcare environment.
Working as part of a team
At childcare, your child is part of an inclusive centre community, where they are required to participate in group programs and practise cooperation and collaboration skills.
By working as part of a team in a childcare setting, your child can learn how to share with others and help their peers to achieve common goals. These social skills can help your child be a better friend and learner and can even help with professional opportunities in the future.
Learning from educators
Childcare centres are staffed by talented early childhood educators, who know the value of positive early learning experiences and the importance of promoting social awareness in the early years.
As childcare, your child can follow their educators’ lead, learning how to communicate clearly and effectively. Outside of the home environment, your child can discover new concepts and learn how to engage with diverse people.
Learning to solve problems
Part of developing strong social skills is knowing how to solve problems when they occur. At childcare, your child will face challenges and participate in activities that require them use problem-solving and critical analysis skills.
When taking part in childcare programs, your child can devise and implement problem-solving strategies, with the skills required to do this supporting them enhancing coping abilities and develop socially and academically.
Develop language skills
Language and communication are essential to social development, enabling children to communicate with their peers and educators and with other people in their lives.
At childcare, your child will learn new vocabulary and communication skills to help them more clearly communicate with others. They will also be supported to communicate with diverse people through play, story time, and casual conversation. These experiences can help your child build confidence in their abilities, helping them with communication beyond the classroom.
Promoting school readiness
Early childhood education is designed to prepare children for future learning opportunities, helping them get ready for school and professional requirements.
At childcare, children take part in activities that are similar to those they will participate in at school. They learn how to follow instructions, maintain daily routines, and participate confidently in centre-based programs. When your child understands these things early on in their education journey, they can feel positive, confident, and capable of navigating the challenges they may face when they begin to attend school.
Still searching for the perfect childcare centre? MyXplor can help you find childcare providers near you. For example, a parent based in Alice Springs might visit the MyXplor Alice Springs listing to search local childcare centres.
