WHAT TO DO

Recognise your baby’s sensory personality

– knowing how your little one engages with the world will help you to cater the experience to their sensory profile.

Settled and social butterflies need more opportunities to socialise.

If you can’t socialise due to Covid, try have more sensory experiences like jumping, climbing and rolling. Less screen time is also important for these little ones.

Your sensitive and slow-to-warm-up toddler will need a lot of prep time before a new experience. Try to talk through what is coming ahead of time. The photoshoot, for example, probably needed to be prepped beforehand. Also sticking to routines helps these little ones. Midday sleeps help them to recharge and manage whatever new stimulation they are facing.

Here are some other tips for improving your little one’s social skills eversogently:

• SCHEDULE PLAYDATES Exposure to new social settings is important to develop social skills. Aim to have at least two playdates a week until your little one can go to playschool. If your toddler is sensitive or slow to warm up, make these playdates with quiet or slightly older children because they tend to be less threatening than busy, noisy toddlers.

• MAKE THE WORLD PREDICTABLE Even though nothing about the last two years has felt predictable, you can make your toddler’s world more certain by talking about what’s coming. Playgroups, playdates and, in your case, a photoshoot can all be talked about ahead of time.

• PUT ON A BRAVE FACE Remember that your little one references off your emotions. A poker face when you are feeling stressed or anxious is vital. This will help your little one to cope better and help to put your mind at ease too.