Parallel play and sharing are big milestones—we'll help you nurture them.
These activities teach turn-taking, emotional awareness, and the early building blocks of empathy and cooperation.
Your toddler plays alongside other children but not yet with them — this parallel play is developmentally appropriate and important. They're watching, learning, and absorbing social information even when they seem to be in their own world.
Create opportunities for parallel play: toddler playgroups, park visits, classes. Don't force sharing — it's not developmentally realistic yet. Instead, model gentle interaction and give each child their own set of materials.
Parallel play at one year builds social observation skills, peer awareness, and the foundation for cooperative play that develops over the next year.
One activity at a time. Toddlers do best with a single focus—too many materials out at once leads to overwhelm, not play.
Embrace the mess. Sensory play is vital at this age, and trying to keep things tidy will just frustrate you both.
Expect parallel play, not sharing. Toddlers aren't developmentally ready to share—give each child their own set of materials.
High energy needs an outlet. Plan physical activities for morning when energy peaks, and quieter play after lunch.
Build a block tower together, each person adding one block at a time — the simplest and most satisfying way to practice turn-taking.
Fill a basket with appealing toys and practice handing them back and forth with your toddler — a gentle introduction to sharing.
Set up a simple tea party with cups and a pretend pot — practicing sharing, turn-taking, and social manners through imaginative play.
Practice the 'give me, thank you' exchange with everyday objects — teaching toddlers the social rhythm of giving and receiving.
Use a stuffed animal or real pet to practice gentle touching — teaching toddlers to be kind and careful with living things.
Look through a board book showing different emotions together, naming each feeling and making the face — building early emotion recognition.