Teaching your children how to be good friends starts with you — their parent or guardian. At an early age, kids look up to their closest caregivers as role models. They closely watch how you interact with family, friends and coworkers, and in turn, mimic your actions. To further prepare them, explain how to be a good friend — maybe even read some books that display positive relationships like the classic Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel.
Positive friendships are extremely important and benefit health, behavior and communication. It’s important for children to experience other relationships outside of your family and neighborhood. These relationships can be found at The Gardner School or by participating in community activities around Louisville (or both, if you’re a real overachiever)!
Read how building relationships at an early age begins in preschool. There are great opportunities in Louisville to help kids discover and master new activities and knowledge while practicing making friends. It’s important these life skills be developed at an early age, so it comes naturally as they grow older. Below are a few options (but not all) for new adventures you and your little ones can go on!
Not only does their Kids Fun Zone feature an area where children can play together in inflatable mazes, slides, tunnels and ball pits, but their Preschool Open Gym designs a special time to help introduce preschoolers to social skills.
They have a toddler play zone sweetly called the Tot Lot, which is designed for infants to preschoolers. Activities in the room are based on ability level, so imaginative, engaging, and entertaining learning can happen with similar-aged children.
The library offers three different story time levels: baby, toddler and preschool. This is perfect for developing literacy at specific levels. Librarian led activities introduces kids to books through exercises such as songs, art and creative play time with others their age.
Exhibits that use bubbles, building blocks, or bright colors will definitely attract the attention of toddlers, and there is even a room for younger kids called the Kid Zone that’s full of age-appropriate toys!
The zoo has a few social areas for little ones like their Splash Water Park, playgrounds and carousel. Little Learners, a program held on the first Saturday of each month with a caregiver, teaches how little toddlers can make a big impact on our world!
Planet Preschool is specially designed for children under five. Your toddlers will enjoy creating works of art with others! Art Sparks also offers a Family Art Activity program, so if you have a shier kid, they can meet others in their parental comfort zone.