Ages and Stages of Social Development

Age 2: 

• Social awareness is very limited.
• Play tends to be solitary, although toddlers will closely observe and copy adults and other children.
• Direct interaction is minimal, apart from squabbles over toys!

Age 3:

• Parallel play develops: children play alongside one another, with some interaction.
• Beginning to learn to share and take turns.
• Beginning to learn to manage physical aggression.

Age 4: 

• Co-operative play develops. Children start to play group games. Games become more complex and organized.
• 'Special' friendships begin to form.
• Learning how to play fairly and abide by rules.
• Can approach others and ask to join in with groups.
• Begins to learn to be assertive and to ask others to stop if they are being annoying.

Ages 6-8:

• Learning to be a 'good winner' and a 'good loser'.
• Can empathize with others in distress and offer appropriate support.
• Learning to give and receive compliments from others.
• Conversation skills developing: how to listen to others and take turns talking etc.
• Can ask an adult for support when needed.
• Negotiation skills: including others in decision-making, learning to decide together and make suggestions rather than boss others around.
• Able to say 'no' to peers when appropriate.

Ages 9-10:

• Learning to speak confidently in front of a group.
• Learning to respect the opinions of others.