How often do you ‘socialise’ your toddler?

[Lelophants]

This is probably more for those who are sahm as otherwise I’m guessing they’re at nursery or with other kids at childminders.

DS is at nursery a few mornings a week. When he’s not, I’m worried if he’s socialising enough. My aim is to get out at least once a day but I haven’t done proper social groups for ages. I might go to a mini soft play one morning and get some food there and there will be a few kids but not loads, then we’ll go home and the afternoon is range of playing at home and in garden whilst I sort house and make food. Then we might go out for groceries or something but nothing kid specific. Then another day we might go to a big playground for a bit. Again DS will see some kids but it won’t be like a focussed play date. Is this ok do you think? He might mix a little bit will mostly play alone.

I don’t have the energy to do really big days out all the time and I’ve never liked those groups. Do you think he needs them?

Im also part of a SAHM group on Fb which is mostly American and the women basically live in their houses all day! So obviously I’m not like that but I’m worried I don’t do enough.

If he's going to nursery a couple of mornings a week then that's more than my dd does. Some weeks we don't go to any groups either!

I don't think groups or soft play really socialise a child anyway, I don't find that there's that much interaction between kids who don't know each other already at those things.

I think the mornings at nursery are fine

Thank you, you’ve made me feel so much better!

What kind of things do you do? DS would happily just play with me all day or by himself

Sounds fine, don't stress. We do 3 pre-school classes per week (Rhythm Time etc) and DD does 3 half days at pre-school (she's 3.5 years old). We'll do other outings like soft play/shops/library etc as and when I feel like it. This is mostly because I get really bored in the house if the weather isn't nice enough to play in the garden! I'm sure she'd be fine with less interaction with other kids, it's just what works for us.

My DC goes to nursery 3 days per week and the other 2 weekday mornings we pretty much always go out unless one of us is ill. Usually that's to a toddler group, but sometimes it'll be something less social like a trip to the local zoo, swimming or meeting friends. Afternoons it's naptime then the rest of the afternoon is usually playing at home or in the garden. We go out every day because DC is very active and social and needs a lot of stimulation, and we both get bored at home. I like chatting to other parents at toddler groups, I can feel very isolated at home all day with only a toddler for company. It's what suits us, but there's no right or wrong. If you and your child are happy to stay at home then you don't need to force yourself out of the house every day.

Well I presume you don’t ignore him so that is social. If you’re not taking him to classes you should put aside a portion of the day to play, sing etc with him which is plenty if he is at nursery on other days.

I play with him a lot so that’s reassuring

Mostly just at home play, also school run every day, running errands, I don't drive so a lot of time is walking. I should probably do more with her though.

I get out with my toddler every day. The social aspect is one part, but I also like her to learn skills like swimming, gymnastics, dance and music. Also just gives a structure to the day and week- we do unstructured stuff at other times like libraries, farm and soft play. There's definitely social interaction taking place and she lights up when she sees her friends there.

I think she'd be bored being home all day but that's partly her personality, I'm sure some kids like being home bodies just like some adults do. My older child was in lockdown at the same age so being able to get out to these activities is something I don't take for granted!

Currently on maternity leave with 7mo old and have a 3yo as well.
Take 3yo to playgroup for 2 hours one day and she goes to nursery 2 days. The rest of the time it's just the three of us!

He’s almost 2 and a lot of what we do isn’t child-specific. I try to take him to a proper class or something once per week or we often go to things like swimming but it can be quiet and really isn’t for the purpose of socialising. He doesn’t go to any nursery or anything as I work from home (own business) and my mum watches him the rest of the time. Once per day seems a big effort!

I have my 2yo 2 days a week. We have 4 activities we do regularly but not every one every week (some times clash). So we do a forest playgroup, a free church hall rhyme time thing, a cheap toddler group, and a PAYG gymnastics thing where the kids get to try out proper gymnastic equipment. These all vary the amount of kid on kid interaction vs me and him doing stuff together if that makes sense. My favourite is the cheap toddler group as I get a catch up with some mums and he wanders off and plays with the toys and some other kids. Tbh I think at that age it's still parallel play rather than playing together. As long as you and he are both happy doing what you're doing then crack on. If he's at nursery he's getting socialised there. I get us out of the house cos we drive each other demented if we stay in. Especially now the weather is getting nicer it's even easier to kill an hour walking through the woods collecting sticks.