How much social interaction should a 18mth old have

I am wondering how many outings you have with your toddler. I've got an almost 18mth old. We go to playgroup once a week.

I did try swimming but he's not into it (screams). I am looking around for other activities for him to do but it's difficult to get into them as they are usually fully booked.

The mothers I was meeting up with are no longer meeting. I've tried to get him into daycare (I'm a stay at home mum) but I've been told I have little to no chance there.

Am interested in hearing what activities you have lined up for your children. I only have the one child and there will be no others.

They don't really interact with other kids their own age at that age, if that's what you're asking. We go to playgroup and kindergym every week and they just play sort of alongside each other until they're about two. They change soooo much at around 2, and even more again at 2.5.

I took DS1 to gymbaroo and swimming from 6 months to 17 months, then stopped to have DS2.

We have just recently started swimming with both 2 years and 6 months, we go to mothers group once a week and play dates with other friends, but they dont play as such, DS1 tends to do his own thing a lot of the time when at park or play centre with other kids and if anything want to play with big kids.

Do you have a library or communtiy centre nearby? the library near us has baby mornings with stories, music etc, its free, you usually just turn up to it, no booking or anything. plus tea/coffee and biccies for the mums!

I have been quite slack lately with DS, we go to mums group maybe twice a month, used to do swimming with a few of the girls from mums group but its all falling apart there so havent been for months....do the library maybe once a month, its at 10am so I find it hard to get DS ready to go (as well as me!!) on time.
I should suss out a playgroup, meet some new people, but it scary! LOL.

I have a 12 month old and we only go to playgroup on a Wednesday and Storytime at the library on Thursday (not that she even notices stories are being read! The first week she bounced on my leg the whole time, and last time she crawled over to the kids books and kept taking them out of the boxes on the floor :rolleyes: but it's still good for her to be around other people I guess).

Does your local library have any programs like that you could go to? Even just going to the park and being around other kids will provide stimulation.

I did take DS along to a story telling at the library, and I spent the entire time running around after him. Whenever I take him to social groupings, he tends to just run off and do his own thing. He loves being outside, which when the daytime max is 11 degrees makes him a bit of a loner.

I was curious as to how much I should try and get him to interact with other children. He loves playing with older kids. I was thinking about joining a gym with a creche so he gets to interact with other kids and I get fit

Thanks for your replies.

i believe it is really important that kids interact as much as possible with other peers. People assume that kids can automatically 'play' with others - but often kids need to learn the skill of playing.
the more practice they can have of these skills- especially before the age of 3 years- the better!!

What about just rocking up at the local playground and having him play- he will watch the older kids ' model' these skills and copy hopefully with his peers?
Story time at the local library- he may run around the first few sessions, but he will get the gist of what to do once he sees others- it will happen!!
a local play centre- great on cold windy days- they can run amock and awesome if you can take a friend with you so you can have a cuppa!!
contact the local playgroup association and they can put you in touch with a local group!

It is also important that you meet other mums as well!!! they say you make your life long friends through your kids!! Really important to get out there and socalise yourself as well- keeps you in the loop!!!
mwah hugs hun

Thanks Det

I think it really depends on the kids. Some are interested in interacting with others earlier, and some aren't. It's quite normal for kids to not really start interacting with other kids the same age till 2 or older.

I don't think you can really teach them to socialise or interact, they can and will only do it when they're ready. But you can give him opportunities to play around other kids, like playgroup or whatever, and just see how that goes. Maybe he's a bit young for organised activities like the library or whatever, so situations where he can just free play might work better for now?

I do think it's a good idea for you to get out and meet with other adults, too, if you're not doing that much. And your DS can have a play at the same time.

hi!I have a 18month old daughter and she just seems to love other kids,im not sure about how much interaction they should have but im sure it must be important since she loves other kids sooooo much and i think its because she doesnt have any siblings and all my familys kids are alot older and alot of my friends dont have kids so it makes it hard for her and i can tell as soon as she sees other kids she gets so excited.Ive heard to they dont really interact much at this age but she does in her own way,sorry not much help but i think some is good,i also did swimming which she wasnt too keen on either.

My 16 mth old goes to FDC, and although they little ones tend to "do their own thing" they learn sooo much by watching the older ones. And they do play in thier own cute way, they sort of follow each other around like little ducks, and they tend to do things together eg one in the sandpit, and they all go in, even if they do their own thing whilst in there.
My primary reason for FDC was the social aspect at first, as I didnt go to mothers or playgroup. best thing i could have done, I think.
My 2.5 yr old nephew has almost never been exposed to other kids (a 6 yr old cousin maybe once a month and my DS about once a month, and very recently kindermusic) and he is completely socially retarded. His grandma is his best friend and he cries when she takes him to the park if there are other kids there. He has no concept of sharing, and wont even make eye contact with other kids.
Anyway, thats a whole other thread LOL.
What about one of those indoor play centres, or even the ones at the shopping centres?
The more exposure the better IMO.
Good luck.

Marcellus - thanks for the advice.

1pj - DS loves other kids too. We were at a family BBQ the other week, with five other kids 10 and under and he was just running around screaming (the kids were playing chasey) he didn't understand the concept but understood the run and scream part.

Livinthedream - interesting about the 6 year old. I do take DS out at least once a week to a playgroup or indoor play areas to run around with other kids.

DS is pretty good with other kids. DH thinks I should be out every day with DS, going to group activites etc, but I find it really draining, so I try and go out at least twice a week. Once he turns two, there are a lot more activities for him to go to - dancing and music.

BBL - DS wants me to cook with him on the loungeroom floor!

I think just getting out and doing stuff with him is a good start at this age. DD1 goes to playgroup but she also goes to childcare while I work and she goes to the creche at the gym so she gets to play with a broad variety of kids. With the swimming, rather than doing classes could you see if any of the playgroup mums want to catch up at the pool and you can just play with the kids in the water.

Other things that we do are just go to a local park with a ball and kick it around, watch the trains at the station or catch a train for a ride, go to the playground (there's usually other kids there that they can play with) or an indoor playcentre if it's cold/wet.

Ive been going to play since my eldest was just over one and he is now 3.5, he does daycare twice a week. Started soccer on sundays ( its for ages 1-8) teaches them the ins and outs of the game.

My 14 mth old loves playing with other kids or just wandering round doing his own thing. Indoor play centres rock for cold crappy days