Most parents know teaching the ABCs is just the start of childhood development. What can feel tougher is helping your child grow social skills that shape their confidence and friendships. At Fireflies Early Learning, we focus on early learning social skills that make a real difference. Let’s look at how you can support your child’s social growth both at home and through play-based learning.
Importance of Social Skills in Early Childhood
Social skills form the foundation of your child’s future relationships and success. When children learn to connect with others early, they gain tools that serve them throughout life.
What Are Social Skills in Early Childhood?
Social skills are the abilities children use to interact effectively and harmoniously with others. These include verbal and non-verbal communication, such as speech, gesture, facial expression and body language. In the early years, social skills look like:
Sharing toys with peers
Taking turns during play
Listening to others
Asking for what they need
Recognising and responding to emotions in themselves and others
Cooperating with friends and educators
Resolving disagreements peacefully
Why Social Development Matters
Research consistently shows the profound impact of early social development. According to the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC), 81% of children who demonstrate strong social skills in early childhood are more likely to succeed in school and beyond.
Children who develop strong social connections experience numerous benefits:
Better emotional regulation – They’re better equipped to manage big feelings and cope with challenges
Stronger communication skills – Early interactions help children express their thoughts and emotions clearly
Improved academic readiness – Children who engage in positive social interactions adapt more easily to structured learning environments
Higher resilience – A strong sense of belonging helps children build confidence and independence
Understanding Social Development Milestones
Social development begins from birth and evolves through the early years. Here’s what you might observe:
Birth to 12 Months
Babies begin recognising familiar faces, responding to voices, and engaging in eye contact. When your baby babbles and you respond in a warm, loving way, you’re helping your baby learn about communication, behaviour and emotions.
1-2 Years
Toddlers start imitating others, showing interest in peers, and expressing their needs through words or gestures. At this age, toddlers like to play near other children, rather than with them, but playing around others gives your toddler the chance to build their social skills.
3-5 Years
This is when social skills become more refined. Children learn to share, follow rules, express emotions appropriately, and engage in cooperative play. They’re developing language, problem-solving, and social skills that will carry them through to school.
How Fireflies Early Learning Supports Social Development
At Fireflies, our play-based learning approach aligns perfectly with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), which guides early childhood education across Australia. The EYLF emphasises play-based learning and recognises the importance of communication, language, and social and emotional development.
Our educators create meaningful opportunities for social learning through:
Group Play and Activities
We facilitate play in small groups to build on children’s relationships with each other, helping them learn to share toys and demonstrate skills like taking turns. From block building to collaborative art projects, children learn the value of teamwork.
Storytelling and Conversations
We use storytelling, playing games, singing, dancing, and imaginary play to support social and emotional development. These experiences help children explore different perspectives and understand how characters solve social problems.
Modelling Pro-Social Behaviours
Our educators use social and emotional skills themselves, showing children how they work by talking about mistakes and saying sorry, demonstrating that these are part of life and can be learning opportunities.
Outdoor Learning Experiences
Nature-based play provides rich opportunities for cooperation and problem-solving. Whether building a fort together or caring for our garden, children learn to negotiate, share ideas, and work towards common goals.
Practical Strategies for Parents at Home
You play the most important role in your child’s social development. Here are evidence-based strategies you can implement:
1. Create Opportunities for Interaction
Provide opportunities for interactions with others, such as going to playgroups with other children, inviting a child to your home for a play, or going to the park where there are other children playing.
2. Play Together Regularly
When you play with your child, it builds your relationship and sends a simple message – you’re important to me. This helps your child learn about who they are and where they fit in the world. Try board games, turn-taking games, or imaginative play scenarios.
3. Label and Discuss Emotions
Describe and label emotions by saying things like ‘I enjoyed doing the puzzle together with you. It was fun!’ or ‘Are you feeling sad today because your friend is not here?’ This builds your child’s emotional vocabulary and helps them understand their feelings.
4. Model Positive Communication
Children learn by watching you. Your warm and loving interactions develop your child’s confidence, resilience and communication skills they need later in life for working through problems and forming healthy relationships.
5. Support Problem-Solving
Support children to make choices and solve problems as appropriate for their developmental level. Instead of immediately solving conflicts for them, guide them through thinking about solutions.
6. Share Family Meals
Regular family meals can strengthen family relationships and your child’s sense of belonging, giving you the chance to spend time together. Mealtimes are perfect for practising conversation skills and learning about taking turns to speak and listen.
7. Read Together Daily
Regular reading creates a special time for bonding, stimulates your child’s imagination and helps them learn about the world. Discuss the characters’ feelings and how they resolve conflicts.
The Role of the Early Years Learning Framework
Australia’s EYLF provides a comprehensive guide for supporting children’s development. The framework views children’s lives as characterised by belonging, being and becoming, recognising that children’s earliest development and learning takes place through relationships, particularly within families.
The EYLF’s five learning outcomes include:
Children have a strong sense of identity
Children are connected with and contribute to their world
Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
Children are confident and involved learners
Children are effective communicators
All of these outcomes rely heavily on well-developed social and emotional skills.
When to Seek Additional Support
Every child develops at their own pace, but if you notice persistent challenges with:
Making or maintaining friendships
Understanding social cues
Managing emotions
Communicating with others
Sharing or taking turns
Consider speaking with your child’s educators, your GP, or a child development specialist. Early intervention through support such as speech therapy or occupational therapy can help children who need explicit teaching about how to interact and communicate with others.
Building a Strong Foundation Together
As children grow, they develop their social and emotional skills through a wide network of social relationships, including other adults and children. At Fireflies Early Learning, we’re proud to be part of that network, working in partnership with families to nurture confident, capable, and socially skilled children.
Remember, social skills development isn’t about achieving perfection – it’s about providing consistent opportunities for practice, modelling positive behaviours, and celebrating small wins along the way. Whether your child is learning to share for the first time or navigating more complex friendships, these early experiences are building blocks for a lifetime of meaningful relationships.
Want to learn more about how Fireflies Early Learning supports your child’s social development?
Get In Touch:
Phone: 07 5309 1100
Address: 22 Kauri St, Cooroy QLD 4563
Our Hours: Monday-Friday, 6:30AM – 6:30PM (Excluding Public Holidays)
Visit us to see our play-based learning environment in action and discover how we’re nurturing the next generation of confident, socially skilled children right here in Cooroy.
Additional Resources
For more information about child development and social skills, visit:
Raising Children Network – Australia’s trusted parenting website, funded by the Australian Government
Early Childhood Australia – Resources and information about early childhood education
ACECQA – Information about the National Quality Framework and Early Years Learning Framework
This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and should not replace professional advice. If you have concerns about your child’s development, please consult with a qualified healthcare professional or child development specialist.