How to Teach Children Social Skills Through a Playground

For many children daycare, preschool, and kindergarten is the first contact outside of the family with other children. All the lessons about sharing and being nice that Mom and Dad have tried so hard to teach don't really come into play until they are forced to interact with other kids their own age. When playing on the playground (or in a classroom) children are forced to relearn their social skills in an environment of peers-not adults who will give in to tantrums and sweet smiles. Because of this, a playground can be the perfect place to reinforce lessons taught at home and in school regarding social niceties.

It can also be an important place as it teaches lessons that may not be learned anywhere else. Through experiences such as standing in line for the slide, waiting to use the swings, playing together with toys, and even waiting to talk to Mom, children are able to learn about sharing, patience, and taking turns. Although they may have been taught to share before, having to practice it when playing with another child will teach the lesson much better than listening to Mom repeat it at home. Taking turns on the swing or slide helps children see that the world doesn't revolve entirely around them. Children will quickly learn for themselves that others will not want to play with them if they are not kind.

Although most children do not have the vocabulary to express these concepts, kindness and niceness are definitely recognized during playtime, and children are naturally drawn to those kids who are nice to everyone. A quick check from the adult in charge usually will also help a mean or selfish child understand how to play nice, not just why.

Occasionally, however, there is more involved than angels playing. Sometimes playgrounds have bullies or manipulative children who can hurt others. Playgrounds are a great place to learn to stand up for oneself. A child is able to stand their ground and explain they don't like the actions of another, but can still get an adult involved if necessary (there should always be an adult around playgrounds for safety's sake).

Playgrounds also provide a safe place to learn about how to be social. Children's conversations can take place, helping communication skills to grow. Moral and ethical lessons can be taught both at the time and afterward in discussion. An example of this would be when Tony pushed Alice down. Alice has a choice, whether to communicate how hurtful this was to Tony, to push back, or to run to an adult. Alice's Mom now has the chance to discuss the right thing to do with Alice. This scenario wouldn't have presented itself without the playground scene.

Apart from these reasons, there are many other benefits of social play on playgrounds, whether at daycare, schools, or parks. Many of these benefits are physical. A child who plays at a playground will quickly learn how he fits into space, the limits and wonders of his own body, and to love being active and fit. These lessons will continue with him throughout his life, and will help him in the years to come. Playgrounds are important to a growing child so that he can grow not only physically, but socially as well.