Long before your child ever steps into a classroom, they need to develop certain social skills to help them become a success in school. Some of these skills are related to coordination and body function, but the most important component of preparing your child for school involves developing certain social skills.
One of the biggest challenges for many children is learning how to share and take turns. For some children, this is a difficult thing to learn, especially if they are an only child. Rather than telling your child he or she must “share” an object, parents can better encourage their child to “take turns.” By taking turns with something, your child can enjoy their turn playing with the Tonka truck or Barbie with the knowledge that they will get it back when their turn comes again. Anticipation of a promised thing is important in developing a child’s ability to handle delayed gratification. By developing this ability, a parent helps their child to mature and be able to wait for their turn rather than demanding that they have to play with the toy RIGHT NOW.
