The social skills which children need to be acceptable in society are:
- Being polite e.g. saying hello
- Sharing
- Taking turns
- Accepting rules
- Being clean e.g. washing hands after going to the toilet
- Control temper
Mickel is capable of being polite, sharing, taking turns, being clean and sometimes accepting rules. However he cannot always control his temper. If he gets angry or mad he would start being aggressive even if outside or around different people.
Pattern of social development
Interacts with people
Watches mums face
Recognises her
Smiles
Responds to noises
Learns to attract attention
Learns that he/she is part of a family
Knows the difference between family and strangers
Co-operates in a group
1 year- Obeys and understands simple instructions
15 months- Copies others
2 years- Plays near children
3 years- Plays with other children and shares
4 years- Starts to co-operate
5 years- Co-operates and follows rules
Mickel can do everything in the pattern of social development. Which I think is really good. He knows how to attract attention and likes to attention seek e.g. he will pretend he is choking. Mickel knows the difference between family and strangers and feels more comfortable around family. When around other children who might be visiting he is a bit quiet and after a while begins to play with them. He listens and joins in with them and follows the rules e.g. when playing hide and seek he knows what each role has to do and sticks to it.
To help social development you will need to let the child be around people they don’t know that well either inside or outside of their home. You will then be encouraging them to be social able and act appropriately around different people. The parents will need to help and teach them skills because children are not born with social skills. To get them involved they can be taken to parent and toddler groups. Mickel isn’t taken to these and so hasn’t developed some of his social skills needed like when being around new or different people. Here they will meet other children of their age and be able to join in with them and begin to interact with other people. At nurseries and playgroups they will have that privilege, they will adapt to life and people outside of their home and the child will learn how to co-operate as a member of a team. Going on family outings will also help social development, they’ll be able to do things together as a family and learn that they are part of a family, and enjoy each others company. Mickel’s family rarely goes on trips but do spend time together in the home. If the child gets opportunities to play with friends they’ll build new relationships. And learn the right attitude while around other people. By doing all of these activities they develop they communication skills, even if the child cannot completely speak yet. Other family members should do tasks with the child like a jigsaw or cooking. Family members do sometimes draw and count with Mickel. This encourages co-operative play and the child learns to be in a group and share. If the parents have friends with children this will help as well so that they get more company and learn from them. There are several skills needed so that the child’s behaviour is more ‘socially acceptable’ (Child Care and Development by P. Minett). These are:
- The ability to meet, mix and talk with others
- Knowing how to share, take turns, and accept rules
- Having standards of cleanliness acceptable to others e.g. Washing
- Eating in a suitable manner which wouldn’t offend others
(Child Care and Development by P.Minett).
Social development can also be slowed down. If the right skills aren’t taught or practised the child wouldn’t develop what is needed. If the child doesn’t have any people or friends to talk to or play with they’ll become lonely. Children need enough social contact, if not they become unhappy and there social development slows down. Even if the adults are lonely, they will become unhappy and show with the child. If the parents didn’t mix with other people the child probably won’t get chances to either. Having a disability e.g. being physically handicapped can hinder social development. Mickel isn’t lonely but he has a limited amount of people to talk to and only occasionally meets someone new. But as each child is different, expect development to be different
