Monkey made a really lovely big step last week, and one I am really proud of. All babies and toddlers start off playing pretty independently from other children, sort of sid by side, without interacting with them. Monkey has always been particularly wary of other kids, especially after a knock earlier this year. He has been getting a lot better and there have been signs of improvement over the past few months. For example he stopped launching himself off the side of a climbing frame whenever he saw another child nearby!
Pretty much every week we meet up dor a play date with my friend S and her little girl E, who is almost exactly a year older than Monkey. They get on pretty well for the most part though do bicker and snatch toys from each other at times. E though has been very excited by the development of Monkey’s speech over the past few months, often exclaiming “he can nearly talk as good as I can!!”
There has just been little more signs of interaction between them over the last few weeks and then last week they really actually played together. They were lying on the edge of the ‘baby’ zone in the soft play and after watching E roll of a few times (making Monkey chuckle a lot) they then started counting together and trying to roll off at the same time. Sometimes they managed it, other times they were way out of sync, but they were taking it in turns counting down and really trying to do it together.
They looked so cute playing together S and I really had a moment! E is a really sociable little girl and loves playing with other kiddies whereas Monkey has always been much more reserved. We spend so much time together and S was as proud of Monkey as I was. It may seem small but actually a huge step for him and one fo the many signs recently about how much he is growing up and getting more independent from me. Just so lovely 🙂
Ahhh this is amazing and such lovely pictures really capturing these moments!!! Xx
Aw what a lovely little moment you’ve captured! 🙂 it’s lovely to see kids play happily, mini loves other kids but at playgroup has encountered some less than friendly reactions too :/ hoping over the next few months and a new group she will interact with others more too.
Ah, bless him! I love the photos, and can just imagine the concentration and the giggles! x
thanks lovely, it was such a great moment!! xx
Aww bless – it’s so lovely when little ones start really playing together, a real milestone to celebrate!
Thanks Carie, I was so proud of him! xx
Ahh such a lovely mummy moment. Xx
Lovely photos! My son was the same with other children but as soon as he started nursery when he was 3 and now at school he is the most chatty confident little thing with so many different friends. Lovely to see how he’s progressed x #letkidsbekids
Aw, it’s wonderful when they really start to play together with friends and interact. So pleased he has started taking this step, it’s lovely to watch as a parent your child grow in confidence.
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
Thnks Karen, it was lovely to see and hope it continues! xx
Ah Caroline, that’s really lovely and a real moment of progress. Such lovely photos to capture the moment too. X
Thank you, we were dead chuffed with it! xx
Ahh, E sounds very sweet and quite perceptive!
Lovely photos to share! My son is like this as well. I remember thinking am i raising a loner? Then when he started school he just clicked with everyone like Monkey =) #letkidsbekids
That does look like they were having fun and such a lovely moment to capture and remember 🙂
That must have been really lovely to see. And those photos are fab! 🙂
That’s lovely to hear – and I can totally feel your pride shining out of this post! I love all the new developments at that age, and it’s so nice to see them happy, isn’t it? x
Thank you, I was dead proud of him, and he is growing up so much all the time at the moment and it is lovely to see! xx
This post warmed my heart! My son is very shy & will only play w/ other toddlers every once in a while but when he does, it’s so cute!
thank you, it is so lovely to see isn;t it? When they break out of their shell just a little bit, makes me so proud of him! xx
Very cute indeed. It’s always a relief to know our young ones can make friends like this. If only it was so easy for grown-ups sometimes!
OMG this is like the cutest post ever! They both sound so cute! Lovely that he is coming out of his shell a little, he sounds just like Harry x
So cute! Love all the photos 🙂 I’m sure your little monkey will be more confident with other kids as he gets so older. Such a sweetie 🙂 #loudnproud.
awww what a really beautiful moment you managed to capture!
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments (sorry im late getting round)
They sound like lovely little characters, E’s quote was fab.
Lovely pictures of the two of them too.
Thanks for linking up with #SSAmazingAchievements x
Jeannette @autismmumma
How utterly adorable is this post and how CUTE are those photos! Love this and thanks for linking it up with #MMWBH x
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They look like they’re having such a good time together. My little one is a little bit older but still not great at playing with others (she tends to run and hide) but its always great when they suddenly develop the confidence to play together.
aww bless her, I am sure she will get there, they all do things at their own pace don;t they? Lovely to see his confidence growing though! xx
This is so fantastic to see. I would love Ethan to have a little friend but it looks like you have this covered. A lovely moment to capture on camera #SSAmazingAchievements
Thanks lovely, it is nice though it has taken some time to get to this point! xx