When Are Babies Developmentally Ready for Group Play?

During the first year of your baby's life, you're his favorite playmate. After all, you're the one who grabs the toy he flings off of his high chair and crawls around on the floor with him during playtime. But as your little one gets older, he'll become more ready to transition from solitary or parent playtime into something a little more social. By checking your expectations and arranging for the right opportunities at the right age, your baby can blossom into a social butterfly through group play.

  1. Independent Play

    • During the first year, your child will be more interested in playing solo. He's still learning about the world around him and probably isn't ready for structured games and play, notes PBS.org. Instead, a rattle, some measuring cups or a toy that offers different activities, like an activity table, is most likely to capture his attention for short bursts of time, since he won't yet understand rules and is happy to hang out on his own. While some baby group classes are available during the first year, they'll require heavy involvement from you as a parent.

    Side-by-Side Play

    • When your little one has blown out the candles on his first birthday cake, he'll probably start showing more interest in playing with other babies. Don't expect an interactive playdate at first, though -- even in large groups, younger toddlers are more comfortable playing side-by-side with other babies rather than playing together. In a group setting, you might notice parallel play instead; this involves a couple of little ones playing independently, but beside one another, notes KidsHealth.org.

    Group Play

    • Sometime between the ages of 2 and 3, you should notice that your little one is more interested in playing interactively with a group, notes HealthyChildren.org. This is when group classes and playdates really start to pay off as children are old enough to understand concepts like sharing, cooperation and give-and-take. This is an excellent time to sign your baby up for group activities or arrange for group play with friends, especially because social interaction will help your child become more comfortable in groups while developing his social skills.

    What to Expect

    • When you bring your babe to a group play setting, you might be surprised as to how he acts around other kids. Babies and toddlers who are well socialized are eager to show affection, so you might witness kisses and hugs, notes a 2009 issue of "Young Children." You might also witness a few spats, so make sure you're on hand to offer a distraction and a quick command to behave. Over time, your little one will soon learn the ropes of group play as he sharpens his social skills.

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