if your toddler stays home during the day...

oooCarrieB · May 2012

instead of going to daycare, how much socialization are you doing with other kids?

This came up during our 1 year appointment yesterday and I'm probably over thinking it now. My DH stays home with our baby during the day and doesn't take her to play group, although he does take her out on errands or a walk most days.

I sometimes take her to a play group on Saturday and I take her to the park some evenings where there are other kids. The doctor assured me that this was enough socialization for a 1 year old, but I was just wondering what others are doing.

Ali212 · May 2012

Both of my girls stayed home during the day, my older one with a nanny and my younger one with me since I stopped working right before she was born. They both got a ton of socialization though. My older one, for example, would go to music or gym class 3 mornings a week with her nanny. Then, they would go to the library for storytime at least 1x a week. Almost all days also included a trip to the park and then 1-2x a week, they would have a lunch date with friends at a restaurant in town. She also did playdates, either at our house or a friend's home, 2-3x a week.

My younger daughter has a similar level of activity but it's obviously a bit different since she has an older sister at home. We do music class 1x a week and swim classes 2x a week and then we go to the park 2x a day with her sister for playtime (sometimes impromptu and sometimes organized playdates with other kids).

choco_lab · May 2012

When ds1 was 1, I had him in a gym class, a music class and a playgroup so we were out three mornings a week.

Dragonfly1226 · May 2012

We go to sing along in the mornings on Mon and Wed, playgroup on Friday afternoon, and on Tues and Thurs I either go to a story time, play date, museum, playground, or something along those lines unless I have errands to run. So we go out every day, and I try to give him social time four to five days a week. On weekends when dh is around we just play it by ear but usually don't go to organized activities.

lillinzlou · May 2012

DD goes to tumbling once a week and DH takes her to the nursery at the gym at least 3 times a week. Plus, I babysit in my home 3 days a week.

I think what you're doing at that age is great! I think we try to overload our kids with activities sometimes. Sometimes a trip to the park for some free play does much more good than an organized activity.

ladychicago · May 2012

We do a playdate once or twice a week, are at the children's museum every other week, and are at the park almost every day. I am hoping to do a Gym.boree class this summer, too, once H is old enough for the family class.

laura1 · May 2012

When DS was a year old, we did a music class once a week, and had just started Little Gym once a week. Other days I would try to find a story time at a local library, take trips to the playground, etc just to get us out of the house and give myself some social interaction as well. As he has gotten older, we have increased our activities - and therefore DD did lots more stuff at a year than he did.

Now, we do gymboree once a week, playgroup once a week, and will go to the free play times at gymboree or playground in the afternoons. Both kids also go to "school" 2 days a week (DD started at 15 months - and I use this as a daycare since I work 2 days a week).

Dochas · May 2012

You're doing more than enough. The classes are fun but really just to kill time for the parents.

MAK06 · May 2012

I haven't been doing quite as much lately since we are cycling but I was taking him to tumble class once a week until that recently ended. We were also doing the library on Tuesdays. Then the occasional play date with a friend, birthday party, etc.

RoxBride · May 2012

DD started PDO at one and a half, mostly for socialization. I wanted her to be part of a 'herd' since she was completely the center of our attention, and to learn to listen to other adults. It helped a lot. Prior to that, she socialized with other kids that belong to our friends, although we really didn't do playgroups, etc.

cjsbdl · May 2012

My 2.5 year old started MDO (twice a week for five hours) when he was a year old...my 15 month old starts next month.

Other than that, we do play dates occasionally with neighbors, but that is not a regular thing, and we attend church semi-regularly, where they stay in the nursery.

I don't think socialization is a real priority at 1. I wouldn't worry too much about it...you can start adding things as your baby gets older.

wiscgirl95 · May 2012

I wouldn't worry about it too much. I started looking for programs more for me-I needed to get out of the house and fortunately Vivi loves getting out of the house as well!

We've been going to the New Parents Network at St. Mary's since Vivi was 2 months. It's open to newborns through toddlers. We went this morning! I know they have something similar at other hospitals. I think West Allis Memorial? This one is run by lactaction consultants. Very casual, no real structure just open play and hang out with other parents. There are moms and dads that go. Check out millwaukeemoms dot com.

Otherwise we've gone to story times at some of the suburban libraries near us (Shorewood, North Shore and Whitefish Bay) that have been open to 6 mos +. Most of the programs have ended for the summer as they switch their offerings to cover school age kids off for the summer. Very short stories and then singing, nursery rhymes, play time. Best of all they are free! I think the main library downtown has one for the summer now that I think of it geared to age 1+.

Our church offers an open gym for ages 1-3 but that also has ended until fall.

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