POLOKWANE – Mashiane says even though some children are the only ones in their homes, it’s still very important for them to interact with other children. Play dates, he says, gives children an adequate social foundation in their early childhood phase.
“This is where parents can also interact with other mothers and share each others’ experiences (sometimes relate to situations), while giving each other parental advise as well,” he added.
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Play dates provide children with opportunities to practice important social and emotional skills. Children learn to share, take turns, and cooperate as they interact with each other. Play dates are also a great place for children to practice manners and learn how to communicate with one another.
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He explains that frequent play dates are important either weekly or monthly. “When children go for play dates, there’s usually a lot of sharing involved (which some kids must learn to deal with, otherwise they end up crying when they have to share their toys with other kids) and this actually helps and prepares the kids to learn to share so that when they have siblings one day or go visit their cousins, they’re able to share and already used to sharing toys with their friends and family etc,” Maphuti concluded.
