Initially, the parent should serve as a proctor for these activities but this involvement should lessen on subsequent visits. It is suggested that only one friend be invited at a time. The learning disabled child is often over-stimulated by the presence of small groups. The second objective for the isolated child is to assist him in developing hobbies or interests that will enable him to spend his solitary time in productive and rewarding pursuits. Although these individual pursuits are not replacements for social interactions, they are far preferable to the child's spending hours in depressed, brooding solitude.
Parents can play a role in the fostering of social competence at a very young age.
Toddlers and pre-school children seldom become involved in genuine play. This phenomenon can be readily observed at a beach or nursery school playroom. Dozens of children play independently without talking, sharing or acknowledging one another. Children with distractibility or attentional problems may have difficulty participating in parallel play. When such a problem occurs, gently remove the child from the situation and engage him in a quiet game or activity.