We're having a sort of heat wave in the middle of January here in the Northeast. That means there have been plenty of extra playground days for my kids. With my littlest guy just starting to get up on his legs and the other two racing around with their "superhero" friends, I've been thinking about the leaps in development that occur between the toddler years and the start of preschool.
From basic physical skills like walking a line to complex language skills like talking in sentences, there is so much to come for JT. I also realized I need to start treating him differently than I did just two months ago to help him begin mastering skills he'll need before, like his big brother, he's off to nursery school.
The first step, I think, is to get Little Guy a few playmates his own age. One thing about having multiple kids, you tend to plan less time for play dates since they have each other. That pays off in many ways, but he also needs a toddler pal, someone he can swap toys with for now who, in a year or two, will be ready to play pretend games with him. With a peer, he can test out appropriate physical skills (i.e., not trying to walk up the twisty slide like his sister) and practice social skills on a friend (who won't give in to his demands like I make his siblings do).
So this week, as we hit the playground for some unexpected spring-like fun, I'll be scouting the benches for moms of young toddlers. Making mom friends has always a bit difficult for me (hard to even remember an acquaintance's name when you're focusing on the monkey bars and feeding a baby). But I promise to try.
If you've put off play dates for your little one so far too, I encourage you to join me and find one new play pal for your tot this month. He'll enjoy having someone to grow with - and as a bonus, you and his mom might become pals as well.