How a Baby's Social Skills Develop
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Developing Baby's Social Skills
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Babies are amazing little creatures that seem to like everyone from the day they are born. Actually, they are becoming socialized while still in the womb. Hearing their parent's voice gets them accustomed to the sound, and they naturally react happily to the mother or father's voice. When they are born they learn quickly to adapt to visitor's facial expressions and the tone of the voice.
Visitors
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Determining how many visitors the new baby receives is a way of developing her social skills. Parents should monitor the baby's reaction closely. If he is still calm and happy after several visitors, things are fine.
When the baby starts to get fussy, or tries to go to sleep, this just may be his way of telling you he has had enough socializing for one day. This is fine, as we all get tired of too many visitors from time to time. Let the baby have some quiet time and ask the visitors to come back later.
Continuing to pass the baby around when she is tired of the visitors may instill a dislike of people on her. She may associate her tired, fussiness with being held and played with. Be sure not to let friends and family hold the baby and pass her around until the point where she is exhausted. -
A Social Clown
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Once the baby reaches a few months old, he will be ready to enjoy interaction with others. Parents can teach the child that it is fun to be with others by frequently playing silly games with the baby. The baby will soon realize that most all of his visitors will laugh at his funny faces and he will laugh to.
Babies learn by intently watching those around them. They will react in the same manner as they are treated. If you encourage the baby to be social with siblings and family members, he will enjoy it. Keep the baby in the same room as family and visitors as much as possible.
Even if you are just holding the child on your lap while adults have a conversation, she will watch intently. She may even join in the conversation with her baby gibberish. Encourage this, as it will instill a feeling of involvement in the baby.
Outings
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Begin taking the baby on outings as soon as possible. Babies cannot learn what they aren't exposed to. If the baby has been to family gatherings and restaurant outings since birth, he will naturally know how to act in such environments when he is older because they are familiar. Do not cling to your baby protectively, but encourage him to hold his arms out to be held by other family members. Clinging to baby can cause her to be shy and timid, even around other family members.
Allowing other family members or close friends to spend time with the baby, away from Mommy and Daddy will socialize the baby to be comfortable when you aren't able to be there. According to Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Allen Green, keeping the baby to close to you, and not allowing him to explore the world around him, can lead to the child having severe separation anxiety when the time comes that you do have to leave him.
Teaching Social Skills
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You may be planning on returning to work at some point. If the baby is not comfortable unless you are within his sight, he will be devastated when the day comes for you to take him to a daycare. He will be frightened and will not know how to act, unless you have taught him the social skills he needs to adapt away from Mommy.
Teaching the baby social skills is a matter of allowing her to explore her natural inquisitiveness about the world around her, while you are there to make her feel safe and secure. Keep a watchful eye out to make sure the baby is safe, but don't coddle or smother the child.
Children are naturally curious. Allow them to develop their own social personality, instead of instilling yours on them. Your baby just might bloom into a social butterfly.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit www.freerangestock.com
