Tips to help Infants & Toddlers form Friendships

There are several ways to help even the youngest of children in your care make friendships. Below you will find suggestions and resources!

Provide opportunities for Infants to play together

Placing Infants face to face and near each other will allow them to be aware of each other.

Create Treasure Baskets for the Babies to explore together-from the Nurture Store
Invitations to play with balls and bowls from Munchkins and Moms

Allow older children to safely play and interact with the younger Children in your care

Education Week

The Value of Mixed Age Play from Education Week

When you are holding a young Infant you can talk about what the older children are doing-be sure to refer to them by name!

The Stay at Home Mom Survival Guide

Tips & Activities for Infant Language Development from The Stay at Home Mom Survival Guide

Provide multiple toys of the same kind so that Toddlers can play next to each other without
having to fight over toys

Provide a safe place for the Infants to play while still being immersed in the other children's play

This Infant play area that belongs to community member  Rachel G. She provides a safe place for crawling Children that allows for interaction from other Children.

This area belongs Community to member  Louise H. -I love how she incorporated a safe Infant/Toddler area in our Outside area.

Acknowledge helping and sharing behaviors as you see them. For example "Connor I like how you shared that book with Angela".

A great collection of phrases to encourage young children from Picklebums

Read books about Friendship

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