4 Year Old and Socialization Before VPK

Updated on April 04, 2013
L.L. asks from Sandy, UT
14 answers

My son just turned four in March so he should start VPK this fall. I need to get him more socialized around kids before then. He has a very timid, shy personality to begin with. Add that to the fact that I am a SAHM (so he doesn't go to daycare), we don't have ANY family or friends with kids near us. We live in Florida and family lives in Utah. We are trying to get back to Utah by the fall. But I need to get him more comfortable around kids before VPK. What can I do? We don't have a lot of money in our one income household. I try and take him to parks to be around kids but kids aren't always there, or just the rowdy, mean ones. Any ideas or thoughts? Being that he's with me all the time, he does get a little separation anxiety when he's around other people. He has a two year old brother, so he's really been his only playmate. I want to make VPK and Kindergarten an easier transition. He will be around most kids who are "just fine and used to being left by mommy with a bunch of strangers". : ). Help

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E.C.

answers from New York on

My son was really a loner. (Like his mom) So I would take him to the park after school time like 3-4 so he can be around other kids, for a while he chose to stay playing alone but after a while he started connecting with the other kids (the regular) and now he doesn't even care if he met them before and just start playing with them. II started around the same time as you. So he was 3 1/2. And now that he in preschool his teachers say he is very social able, and they don’t believe me when say he was a loner last summer.
Good Luck

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X.O.

answers from Chicago on

Would you consider getting a job at the YMCA in their childcare area? I believe you could bring your kids with you for your shift (usually they are 4 hrs), and they could socialize while you are getting paid.

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K.M.

answers from Miami on

VPK is a good transition to kindergarten. My daughter never went to preschool before doing VPK. VPK was tough for her in the beginning with being away from me. Her stomach hurt every morning before school for the first several weeks. But she gradually got used to it and she had very little problem adjusting to kindergarten the following year which was in a new school with new kids. Some ideas you can try are story times at libraries or open play at places like My Gym. You can check meetup.com for playgroups in your area. You could also start him in something like SoccerTots. They have one for tball too I believe. And you can usually do a free class before you commit to paying for the season. Check your city for classes for kids. Since summer is coming, there should be plenty of options. Maybe see what classes are offered at a YMCA near you?

Good luck! My little guy is starting VPK in the fall too.

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L.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Check your local library -- not just the one in your area but others in the same library system if your library is part of a larger county system etc. Our library system here has tons of free activities for kids just his age; in fact that seems to be a target group for library activities, such as a story time followed by a related, kid-friendly craft; a visit from an animal handler who brings birds or reptiles or other animals; a "bedtime story" event where kids come in pajamas in the very early evening; and so on. All free! Go online to the library system or go see the children's librarian at your local library.

Scour the bulletin boards at the library and grocery stores and kids' clothing stores -- many playgroups and other kids' activities put up flyers in those places.

Look for free magazines usually at the doors of grocery stores and other places -- we have ones here called "Washington Family" (yours is probably "Florida Family" etc. and they also list activities and events, many free, many low-cost.

If you can afford it: Try a Music Together or Kindermusik class. I have experience with Music Together and it was fantastic for my daughter at just this age; a good, trained teacher helps kids get into participating, and it is a parent and child class so you will be there participating too.

Look at your county or city Parks and Recreation Department and its listing for kids' classes and one-time events for kids. You may be surprised at how very, very cheap these things can be! Look for classes that might be fun for him; and at his age most will be mom-and-me classes, not drop-offs, so he will be able to adjust gradually to being with other kids and listening to other adults while he feels secure because you're nearby. You might just find that he soon is dashing off to play with other kids or do what the adult leader is doing and loses some of his anxiety -- because he'll know he's in a safe, fun place and that you're nearby.

I understand going to the playground in hopes of finding other kids, but really that is so very hit-or-miss, as you already find. You can't be sure that there will be other kids anywhere near his age, or kids who will play OK together. I really would start with the Parks and Rec department for inexpensive classes and the library for kids' events and activities there. Great resources. He will be fine and you and he will have a great time! By the way -- do think ahead about your younger child now. You may not be able to bring him along to these things, so think now about what do to with him when you take your son to these events or classes. It really is healthy for your older son to have time just with you and without his younger brother there; your older son could end up either relying on his younger brother to stick with him at these events, or he could end up mad that his brother is always along and gets your attention, plus little brother is going to want to participate and that may not be appropriate. Look into whether churches in your area do a "mothers' day out" program where you can drop off your younger child for short times on certain days; usually these programs then require you to volunteer as a sitter at other times to "pay" for your use of them. It would do your younger son good, too.

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L.M.

answers from Dover on

Please remember that VPK is for socialization as much as it is for preschool. But since, as you pointed out, he's used to being home with you and not around other kids more socialization can't hurt. Have you checked your local library or local parks and rec for activities that they may have during the day for toddlers/preschoolers and homeschooled kids? Great way for them to have experiences, socialize, and make new friends. At the same time, you are making mom friends. Then you can schedule some play dates or joint park outings so your both get to branch out. Another source for such activities may be your local church or religious organization...Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for example.

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S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

I did all of the things the other posters are suggesting. We did go to the playground every day, and timed it for when the local daycare came to play. I took the kids to at least three different playgroups. We attended weekly library programs. My kids took weekly swim lessons. I work at the YMCA in the babysitting room, and when the kids were little they came to work with me, plus we get a deal on our membership, so my kids could take advantage of all of the other Y programs.

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

Have you tried playgroups? check out meetup.com

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H.A.

answers from Burlington on

Check your local library. They may have kid activities that would introduce him to playing with other kids in a "non-rowdy" setting. Our small town has story hour twice a week during the day for 0- to 6-year-olds and lots of other activities that are great for socialization. And an added bonus is you may meet some other parents there that *you* would like to hang out with :-)

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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

I don't know what VPK is but I assume it's some sort of preschool. If you're into this sort of thing you could look into Vacation Bible Schools in your area. Most places allow children 3 and up to come and they are usually free or very inexpensive. That would be a good start.

Is this VPK going to be in a church or a school? If it's a church thing, like most preschools, then I would inquire as to whether the school/church has a mom's group of some kind. Some of them are called MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) but others have different names. Anyway, moms groups usually have play dates and meeting where he has the opportunity to be around other kids and you will get to meet other moms too. Plus, maybe you'll really bond with someone and you can have more playdates with a certain friend.

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Reading time at the library, mommy and me type classes (check your local rec or community center, or the YMCA) swim lessons or gymnastic or karate lessons, things like that.
Are there any mom's clubs or play groups in your area? That's a good way to connect with moms who have kids your son's age. It will be good for both of you. I'd be so lonely without other moms to hang out with!

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D.C.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I typed your city plus "play group" into google, and got a lot of hits. You should go through them and find a group to connect with. It will be good for you and your child.

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A.L.

answers from Miami on

I see great suggestions here that I have done w/ son too! Summer is a great time to check the free activities at your local library! I would make a calendar of events as we have many libraries around us that offer great events during that time!
Meetup.com is another place you can find a moms' group that have kids your son's age.
Don't get disheartened if you meet not-so-friendly moms or kids, chances are, the moms and/or kids are shy too! Usually a smile & hi will do the trick..:)
Good luck & best wishes for the upcoming VPK! :)

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Good for you for thinking ahead! :)

Take him to:
-library for reading time (other little kids there)
-find a local toy store that has an area laid out w/the toys they sell for kids
to play with. He will interact w/other kids
-try different parks (I leave when the mean kids get there & I say
something aloud like "don't let kids like that do what they do, tell them to
stop out loud".
-look in your local activity/recreation guide (usually in newspaper racks
outside of grocery stores) for local community activites
-try to find your city's kid sponsored program like painting or music & sign
him up
-take him to your local zoo where he can interact w/kids that are also there (sit down on a bench w/him near other kids)

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K.P.

answers from Miami on

Most public libraries have a Story Hour. I would start there. It's a quiet and controlled activity with low social demand. I used to take my son to ours every month. Initially he wanted me to sit with him but after a while he became very comfortable with the librarian and the other kids, so I could go browse books while he listened and did the craft. See if any of your local churches have a Mothers Day Out program. Ours did. We didn't attend because I work full time and my children were in daycare/preschool, but friends went and the kids loved it.

Also check the local Parks & Rec centers. We also live in Florida and have been really impressed by the programs they have for young children. My son and nieces play in the PeeWee leagues and they are great! The cost is super low ($25 for 6 weeks of t-ball including a bat, ball, glove and t-shirt) and I am going to enroll my older son in the City summer program for the one week I will have to work in the summer.

Final thought... stop thinking about it as "dropping him off with a bunch of strangers". He'll think what you think. Try thinking of it and talking about it as a fun morning activity with new friends. VPK is only 2.5 hours a day here, so it's not really "abandonment".

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