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Social
Explore explanations, everyday questions and next steps connected with social.
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Signs & concerns
What to do if a child isn't yet showing imagination
Imaginative pretend play usually emerges between 18 months and 3 years. If a child isn't showing it yet, it is most often a matter of stage, opportunity or temperament — not a problem. Invite play through everyday moments with open-ended toys, and if pretend play hasn't appeared by around 2½–3 years or comes with delays in talking or social connection, arrange a calm developmental check. This is a reason to look early, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat to do if a child isn't showing imaginative play
Pretend play usually emerges between about 18 months and 3 years and unfolds differently for every child. If a child isn't yet pretending, gently invite and model play in everyday moments rather than worrying. Seek a developmental check if pretend play hasn't begun by around 2.5–3 years, or if it travels with delays in talking, gestures or social connection. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerSupporting a child who isn't pretending yet
Imaginative play usually emerges between 18 months and 3 years, at each child's own pace. The best support is to join in, model simple make-believe, offer open-ended props and give it time — not pressure. Seek a developmental check if pretend play hasn't appeared by around 2½–3 years, or if it comes with few words, little eye contact or limited interest in shared play. This is a reason to look gently, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerChild Not Imitating Yet? A Caregiver's Guide
Imitation — copying gestures, sounds and play actions — usually grows across the first two years. If a child isn't yet copying, invite it through face-to-face play, mirror their sounds and actions, and watch the wider picture of communication and connection. This is a reason to support and observe, not a diagnosis; a developmental check is wise if imitation is absent alongside delays in words, eye contact or social play.
Read the answer AnswerWhat to do if a child isn't yet showing imitation skills
Imitation — copying actions, sounds and faces — is a key way children learn, and it unfolds at different paces. If a child isn't yet imitating, make copying playful and frequent while gently watching their wider communication and play. This isn't a diagnosis, but a calm developmental check is wise, because early play-based support works best.
Read the answer AnswerHelping a Child Who Isn't Yet Imitating
Imitation — copying claps, faces and sounds — is how children learn to connect. If a child in your care isn't yet imitating, start with joyful face-to-face play: mirror their actions, exaggerate and pause, pair gestures with sounds, and celebrate every attempt. Seek a developmental check if imitation isn't emerging alongside few gestures, little eye contact or shared smiling, or limited response to their name. This is a reason to assess early, not a diagnosis — early, play-based support works best.
Read the answer AnswerIf a Child Isn't Showing Joint Attention Yet
Joint attention — sharing focus through looking, pointing and showing — usually grows across the first two years. If a child isn't yet doing this, follow their interest in warm face-to-face play, name and point at what they enjoy, and pause for their response. Seek a developmental check if pointing, gaze-following or shared smiling are rare by around 18 months, especially with delays in babble or words. This is an early opportunity, not a diagnosis, and joint attention responds beautifully to playful daily support.
Read the answer AnswerWhen a child isn't yet sharing or taking turns
Not yet showing patience or turn-taking is very often typical, as these skills develop gradually through the early years. Caregivers help most by practising turn-taking through play, naming feelings, and modelling calm waiting. Seek a developmental check if waiting causes big, frequent meltdowns beyond what's expected for age, or if it comes with delays in talking, playing or connecting. This is guidance, not a diagnosis — early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerIf a child isn't yet showing perspective taking
Perspective taking develops gradually — early roots in the toddler years, richer understanding of others' beliefs around 4–6 years and beyond. If a child isn't showing it yet, keep naming feelings, model it in play, read stories and wonder aloud about characters, and explain the 'why' behind others' reactions. Arrange a developmental check if it lags alongside language, pretend play or wider social delays. This is support, not a diagnosis — early help works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat to do if a child isn't yet showing physical play
Physical play — crawling, climbing, running, throwing, rough-and-tumble — develops at each child's own pace, so a slower start is often typical. Seek a calm developmental check if physical play is well behind age peers, if the child avoids or tires quickly with movement, or if there are delays in sitting, walking, talking or connecting. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis — early support works best.
Read the answer AnswerIf a Child Isn't Yet Showing Play: A Caregiver's Guide
If a child in your care isn't yet showing play, gently invite it, follow their lead, and observe over a few weeks — play develops in stages and many children simply need more invitations or time. Seek a calm developmental check if play stays absent alongside delays in communication, eye contact, imitation or movement. This is reason to look early, not a diagnosis, because early support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat to do if a child isn't yet showing pretend play
Pretend play usually emerges around 18 months and grows through the third year, so a single missing skill is rarely alarming. As a caregiver, make space for it through everyday play and watch warmly. If pretend play hasn't appeared by around 24 months — especially with few words, little eye contact or limited social interest together — a calm developmental check is wise. This is a reason to assess early, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerIf a child isn't yet relating to people
Relating to people — shared smiles, eye contact, responding to names, simple back-and-forth play — grows gradually. If a child isn't yet showing this, keep offering warm, playful invitations and arrange a calm developmental check rather than waiting. This is not a diagnosis; it means an early clinician's look is wise, because connection-building works best when started early.
Read the answer AnswerIf a child isn't yet showing relationship skills
Relationship skills — sharing, turn-taking, showing affection, playing with others — grow gradually and at different rates for every child. If a child in your care isn't yet connecting as expected, the best step is calm observation plus a gentle developmental check, not worry. Support daily by modelling greetings, narrating feelings and arranging small playdates. Seek a check sooner if social connection is consistently behind peers, travels with talking or play delays, or the child seems uninterested in people — this is a reason to assess early, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerIf a child isn't responding to their name yet
Most children respond to their name by 9–12 months. If a child in your care isn't yet turning or looking up when called, first rule out hearing, then watch how they respond to other sounds, faces, smiles and gestures. Arrange a gentle developmental check if non-response continues past 12 months or comes with other communication differences. This is a reason to look closely — not a diagnosis — and early support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhen a child isn't yet making responsible decisions
Responsible decision making develops slowly across childhood into the teenage years, so a child not yet showing it is often typical for their stage. As a caregiver, you can model calm choices, offer safe everyday decisions, and talk through consequences together. Seek a developmental check if poor decisions are frequent, risky, don't improve with guidance, or come alongside other developmental differences — this is support and clarity, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerIf a child isn't yet following routines: a caregiver's guide
Following daily routines grows gradually as memory, language, attention and social motivation develop, and every child arrives at their own pace. Keep daily life predictable, use picture cards and consistent cues, warn before transitions, and praise small steps. Seek a developmental check if a child isn't anticipating familiar routines well past toddlerhood, struggles with simple instructions, or shows other differences like few words or little shared attention. This is reason to assess early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat to do if a child isn't showing self-advocacy skills
Self-advocacy — saying what you want, need, or want to stop — develops gradually, and emerging later is often normal. Caregivers can nurture it by offering real choices, honouring 'no', naming feelings, waiting to listen, and giving non-speaking children pictures or devices. Seek a developmental check if the child has very limited ways to express wants, doesn't seek help when distressed, or lags well behind peers alongside other communication or learning differences. This is reason to assess early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerWhat to do if a child isn't yet showing social skills
Social skills grow at each child's own pace, and some children warm up more slowly. If a child in your care isn't yet showing expected social connection — shared smiles, eye contact, name response, turn-taking — keep offering playful togetherness and arrange a calm developmental check. This is not a diagnosis but an early opportunity, since support at this stage works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhat to do if a child isn't yet showing social adaptation
Social adaptation — joining in, taking turns, sharing attention — develops at each child's own pace. If a child isn't yet showing it, keep connecting through warm, predictable, playful daily routines and arrange a gentle developmental check so a clinician can see the full picture. This is a reason to look early, not a diagnosis — and early, playful support works beautifully.
Read the answer AnswerWhen a child isn't yet showing social engagement
If a child isn't yet smiling back, sharing looks, responding to their name or enjoying back-and-forth play, lean in with warm, face-to-face connection and arrange a calm developmental check rather than waiting. Social engagement grows through everyday playful moments — songs, peek-a-boo, turn-taking and following the child's lead. This is not a diagnosis; an early, gentle clinician's look is wise now because connection-building works at every age.
Read the answer AnswerIf a Child in Your Care Isn't Yet Showing Social Function
Social function — smiling back, sharing attention, taking turns, joining play — grows at its own pace, and many children connect a little later. If a child in your care isn't yet showing expected social connection, keep offering warm, playful, face-to-face interaction, watch the pattern over weeks, and arrange a developmental check rather than waiting. This is not a diagnosis — an early, calm look opens the door to support, which works best when offered early.
Read the answer AnswerCaregiver Guide: When a Child Isn't Greeting Yet
Social greeting — waving, smiling back, saying "hi" — usually emerges between about 9 and 18 months, at each child's own pace. As a caregiver, keep modelling warm greetings, weave them into daily routines, and arrange a calm developmental check if greeting isn't growing alongside other social-communication steps like responding to name, pointing or babble. This is not a diagnosis — it's an early, supportive look, because gentle play-based help works beautifully at this age.
Read the answer AnswerIf a child isn't showing social imagination yet
Social imagination — pretend play and shared make-believe — usually emerges between about 18 months and 3 years and varies child to child. If a child isn't yet pretending, the first step is to gently invite more play and watch their response. Seek a developmental check if pretend play is absent alongside delays in talking, eye contact, sharing interest or responding to their name — not as a diagnosis, but because early support works best.
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