Intentional Catholic Parenting: Social Development Birth through Adulthood
As parents, we cannot assume children will automatically develop social competencies. Children’s social development must be supported and challenged daily through intentional efforts. As parents, we can model positive social interactions, letting children know we value social competencies. Intentional efforts mean we must plan activities and provide materials in our homes that focus on social development. Only then will children be able to acquire social skills that serve them well in their adult lives , and help them reach their full potential as socially competent individuals.
This books helps parents understand and support their children's social development by planning activities and experiences that help them initiate relationships, maintain positive relationships as they learn how to take turns, ignore, negotiate, build consensus, repsond to others appropriately, and engage in positive leisure and play experiences with others.
Woven throughout the book are connections to Christ's own social development, as well as references to scripture, the sacraments, and Catholic tradition. Parents will find over 200 ways to intentionally support these concepts and in so doing they will be able to intentionally nurture their children's creative development through to adulthood.