Interactive Skills

By learning to use gestures and words, they will start to communicate and interact with others in more complex ways.

Children develop interactive skills from the moment they are born. They quickly start bonding with their parents and siblings by making eye contact and interacting with different pitches and tones of voice.

As they grow and develop, so do their interactive and social skills. By learning to use gestures and words, they will start to communicate and interact with others in more complex ways.

Children learn interpersonal and social skills based on their experiences – by what worked in the past. Young babies may scream and cry to let their parents know they are hungry. As a child gets older, screaming for food becomes less and less acceptable – once some basic language has been learned it becomes more appropriate to ask for food. With time, practice and encouragement, children will learn that communicating using words and sentences, including the word ‘please,’ to ask for food maybe the best way to get what they want.

The significance of social and emotional development is seen in every area of a child’s life. At this age, your 2 year old will start laying the foundations for future development by learning to manage his feelings, understand others’ feelings and needs, and interact positively with others. Two-year-old’s enjoy playing with other children, but usually prefer to keep to themselves. Parents typically play a role in encouraging children of this age to interact and play with each other. Activities that can help in your 2 year old’s Interactive skill development:

• Play a game of “one for you, one for me.” This can be using any objects, toys or food of choice. Give the items to your child and ask him to share with people around him.
• Plan a picnic with friends and family, including children of his age and bring along toys that can be used outdoors. Encourage him to interact with other kids and play different games.
• As your child is playing, show him how to appropriately interact with others. For example, encourage him to share by demonstrating how to do it first and having him imitate your actions.
• Encourage your child to help you in picking up and packing his toys after he is done playing.