How do you teach your child interaction skills for childcare?

Learning interaction skills in child care can be a complicated task. Especially if parents have not yet practiced this. Supporting children's development is a crucial part of childcare. An important aspect of this development are the so-called interaction skills. The pedagogical professional plays a key role here through the six different interaction skills. In this article we tell you how you, as a parent, can help develop interaction skills in childcare.

Interaction skills in child care

Interaction skills are the skills we use to communicate and interact with other people. In children, these skills help them feel safe and seen, while also allowing them to explore themselves, each other and new things.

Now let's look at how you, as a parent, can help your child develop these skills for daycare.

Sensitive responsiveness

As a parent, you are your child's first teacher. By responding well to your child's needs and emotions, you teach them what sensitive responsiveness is. By interpreting their signals and effectively turning them into support, you teach your child that their emotions and needs are important.

Respect for autonomy

It is important to see children as individuals and give each the space and time to develop in their own way. This can mean sometimes giving your child the freedom to do things their own way, even if it means making mistakes.

Talking and explaining

Communication is the key to interaction. Encourage your child to talk about their experiences, ideas and feelings. The same goes for explaining; always try to explain why things are done a certain way or why certain rules exist.Structure and continuity

Routine and structure make a child feel safe. They know what is expected of them and what they themselves can expect. Provide regularity and a fixed daily schedule at home. This helps your child get used to the structure they will also experience at daycare.

Developmental stimulation

Children are constantly learning, whether through play, interaction with others or new experiences. Provide plenty of learning resources and encourage curiosity. Also share in their enthusiasm when they learn something new.

Guiding interactions

This is about fostering positive interactions between your child and others. Teach your child to share well, listen to others and wait their turn. This will improve your child's ability to have successful and positive interactions at daycare.

By actively working on these interaction skills at home, you will ensure that your child is ready for daycare and that they have the skills to have successful and positive interactions with their peers and caregivers. Would you like to visit one of our locations for a tour? You can! That way you can get an impression in preparation for practicing.

Need help encouraging your child's interaction skills for childcare? At Atalenta Child Care, we are experts in fostering children's development.