{"h1":"Is It Normal My Toddler Isn't Showing Relationship Skills Yet?","faq":[{"a":"True sharing and turn-taking usually emerge after age 3. Before that, toddlers typically play beside other children (parallel play) rather than with them — this is completely normal. What matters more at 1–3 is connection with you: shared smiles, pointing, and simple back-and-forth play.","q":"At what age do toddlers start sharing and making friends?"},{"a":"Playing alone or beside others rather than with them is typical for toddlers. The reassuring signs are that your child still seeks you out, shares eye contact and smiles, and enjoys simple games with you. A check is only wise if several social foundations are missing for their age.","q":"Should I worry if my toddler prefers playing alone?"},{"a":"Consider a check if, by 18–24 months, there is little eye contact or shared smiling, no pointing or showing you things, little response to their name, or any loss of social skills your child once had. This is not a diagnosis — it simply means earlier observation, when support works best.","q":"When should I seek a developmental check?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-relationship-skills","title":"Is it normal that my toddler is not yet showing relationship skills?","entity":{"key":"relationship-skills","kind":"skill","name":"relationship skills","slug":"relationship-skills"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent / Family","value":"parent"},{"kind":"age","label":"Toddler","value":"toddler"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Social","value":"social"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Concern","value":"concern"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Book-Assessment","value":"book-assessment"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"},{"kind":"ability","label":"Relationship","value":"relationship"},{"kind":"assessment","label":"Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales","value":"ssis"},{"kind":"language","label":"English","value":"en"},{"kind":"sdg","label":"SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being","value":"3"},{"kind":"skill","label":"relationship skills","value":"relationship-skills"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"ASHA / PHC / Frontline","value":"asha_phc"},{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Therapist / Clinician","value":"therapist"}],"parent":{"key":"skills","label":"Skills"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-social-skills","title":"Toddler Social Skills: Is It Normal?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-socialization","title":"Is it normal that my toddler is not yet showing socialization?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-cannot-social-interaction-yet","title":"Is it normal that my toddler isn't socially interactive yet?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-relationship-skills","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing relationship skills?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-cannot-socialization-yet","title":"Is it normal that my toddler isn't very social yet?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-cannot-social-skills-yet","title":"Is It Normal That My Toddler Cannot Do Social Skills Yet?"}],"summary":"For a toddler aged 1–3, relationship skills are only just beginning — true sharing and friendships develop slowly, so most variation is normal. Focus on the foundations: seeking you out, sharing smiles, responding to their name, pointing to show you things, and simple back-and-forth play. Parallel play beside other children is typical. Seek a developmental check if, by ~18–24 months, there's little eye contact, no pointing or showing, little response to name, or any loss of social skills — not as a diagnosis, but because early support works best.","answer_md":"*If your little one isn't quite playing alongside others or sharing smiles the way you imagined, your watchfulness is exactly the loving attention they need.*\n\n## In short\nFor a toddler aged 1–3, relationship skills are only just beginning to bud — true sharing, turn-taking and friendships develop gradually over these years, so most variation is completely normal. What matters more is the foundation: does your child seek you out, respond to their name, share smiles, point to show you things, and enjoy simple back-and-forth play? If those building blocks are present, you have good reason to feel reassured. A check is wise only if several are absent for your child's age.\n\n## What to watch at 12–36 months\nRelationship skills grow in small, predictable steps — not all at once. Gentle things to notice:\n\n- **Connection** — does your toddler look to you for comfort, share eye contact, and smile back when you smile?\n- **Sharing interest** — by ~18 months, do they point to show you something, or bring you a toy just to share the moment?\n- **Back-and-forth** — simple peekaboo, rolling a ball, copying your actions or sounds.\n- **Interest in others** — watching or playing near other children (true sharing comes later, often after 3).\n\nParallel play — playing beside, not with, another child — is entirely typical for this age. Seek a developmental check if, by ~18–24 months, there's little eye contact or shared smiling, no pointing or showing, little response to their name, or any loss of social skills once present.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — Developmental measurement supports care planning; diagnosis requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional., under qualified clinician care. Our clinicians build their own developmental baseline and shape gentle, play-based support around your child's strengths. Learn more about [relationship skills](/relationship-skills), how our [behavioural therapy](/behavioural-therapy) team supports social connection, and [what the AbilityScore® is](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated).\n\n## Trusted sources\nWHO and Nurturing Care framework on early social-emotional development; American Academy of Pediatrics (healthychildren.org) milestone guidance; CDC \"Learn the Signs, Act Early\" social and emotional milestones.\n\n**Next step —** Trust what you've noticed. [Book a developmental check](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/enroll-autism-speech-aba-therapies-india) so your toddler's social steps are reviewed with clarity and care.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-relationship-skills","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-relationship-skills","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-relationship-skills-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"skills","label":"Skills"}],"meta_title":"Toddler Relationship Skills: Is It Normal?","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Build relationship skills through tiny daily moments: roll a ball back and forth, play peekaboo, name what your child looks at, and pause to let them respond. These small turn-taking games are the seeds of sharing and friendship.","published_at":"2026-06-10T11:00:00.139124+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-social-skills","title":"Toddler Social Skills: Is It Normal?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-it-normal-that-my-toddler-is-not-yet-showing-socialization","title":"Is it normal that my toddler is not yet showing socialization?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-it-mean-if-my-child-is-not-yet-showing-relationship-skills","title":"What does it mean if my child is not yet showing relationship skills?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-signs-suggest-my-child-may-need-support-with-relationship-skills","title":"What signs suggest my child may need support with relationship skills?","reason":"Same 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skills?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-relationship-skills-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Amber Zone for Relationship Skills — What to Do Next","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-green-zone-for-relationship-skills-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Green zone for relationship skills — what to do next","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-is-in-the-red-zone-for-relationship-skills-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Red Zone in Relationship Skills — Your Next Steps","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-therapist-what-techniques-help-a-child-develop-the-ability-to-relationship-skills","title":"Therapist techniques for relationship skills","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-a-teacher-support-a-student-who-is-still-learning-to-relationship-skills","title":"How a teacher can support a student learning relationship skills","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-amber-zone-for-relationship-skills","title":"How should a therapist prioritise a child in the amber zone for relationship skills?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-green-zone-for-relationship-skills","title":"How should a therapist prioritise a green-zone child for relationship skills?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-should-a-therapist-prioritise-a-child-who-is-in-the-red-zone-for-relationship-skills","title":"Prioritising a Red-Zone Relationship Skills Profile","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":10},{"key":"home","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-one-everyday-therapy-activity-to-help-my-child-with-relationship-skills","title":"An Everyday Activity to Build Your Toddler's Relationship Skills","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-help-my-child-with-learn-to-relationship-skills-at-home","title":"How can I help my child learn relationship skills at home?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"as-a-caregiver-how-can-i-gently-help-a-child-practise-learning-to-relationship-skills-during-everyday-routines","title":"Helping Your Child Practise Relationship Skills at Home","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"At home & in everyday life","total":3}],"what_to_watch":"Notice whether your toddler seeks you for comfort, shares eye contact and smiles, points to show you things by ~18 months, enjoys simple back-and-forth play, and shows interest in other children. Playing beside (not with) others is normal at this age. Seek a check if, by 18–24 months, there's little eye contact or shared smiling, no pointing or showing, little response to their name, or any loss of social skills once present.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int/browse11","code":"d7","label":"ICF d7"},{"url":"https://www.cdc.gov/child-development","label":"CDC – Learn the Signs, Act Early: social-emotional milestones"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP healthychildren.org – toddler social development"},{"url":"https://nurturing-care.org","label":"WHO Nurturing Care Framework – early social-emotional development"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T11:00:00.139124+00:00","meta_description":"Relationship skills bud slowly in toddlers — sharing and friendships come later. Learn the social foundations to watch for at 12–36 months and when to chec","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}