My 15 month old son doesn't really care to play with other kids all the time. Should I be worried?

Question

My son is by no means a quiet or withdrawn toddler. He loves to interact with us (parents) and he loves to see our friends and general people in the public. He smile and babble to them and sometimes wants them to hold him. He'll even go up to them and put his hands all over them to feel them.

However when he is at daycare (he's been there for a little over 2 months) with all the other kids (about 6 others) he be around the other toddlers, but he'll pretty much play by himself. He knows that the other toddlers are there, but he really has no interest.

He doesn't do it all the time. Sometimes he'll go up to the other kids, but most of the time he'll crawl away from them or just play alone.

Should I be worried? Or is my son just shy and maybe is still getting used to kids his age?

Answer 1

Toddlers do not play "with each other", but side by side.

Answer 2

Your son sounds perfectly normal.  He may just like his time to himself sometimes.  I know I do.  Both of my kids do as well.  If he wanted to be alone all the time, that would be different.  If he had to play with others all the time that would also be different.  He is well balanced.

Answer 3

no  

Answer 4

I wouldn't worry. Kids that age aren't usually into interactive play with other kids. Toddlers that age just aren't socailly developed enough to instigate and maintain play with each other.

Answer 5

I'm sure there is nothing to worry about. Still, the behavior you describe is unusual among infants and toddlers. You would be wise to discuss your concerns with your child's pediatrician.

Answer 6

sounds normal. its called parallel play

Answer 7

Every child will be different, but generally speaking children your son's age engage in what is often called "parallel play".  This means that 2 or more toddlers may sit together in the same vicinity and appear to be playing together, but if you watch you will see that each is basically doing his own thing.  Interactive play, with it's accompanying concepts of sharing and cooperating are still a ways into your son's future.  Generally speaking, sometimes between 2-3 years old a child will begin to engage in more interactive play and less parallel play.  At 15 months old, it would be quite rare for your son to show signs yet of consistant interest in interactive play.  Preferring his own company is quite normal and nothing to be worried about.  Even as a child grows, some prefer solitary play and this is not always a sign of abnormality, but often a simple indication of his personality.  Your son's behaviors are not indicative of a shy child since he interacts with familiar faces as well as strangers.  The more exposure your son has to being around children his own age, the more aware of and comfortable he will become of what others are doing.  Eventually he will join in and actually play with the others and not just play near others.  There are certainly some children who develop interactive play before 2, but this is not average.