From the Babycenter.com email for 14 months, 2 weeks:

Observe a group of 14-month-olds at the park and you'll note that they're basically loners. Socializing isn't really toddlers' thing, and at this age your child is unlikely to do anything more than engage in parallel play, during which he and his companions play side by side but don't interact — unless it's to grab whatever object another child is playing with

WTF?

My kid must be sociable. Sure, she shies away from the loud big lout of an uncle (plus, he smells sort of smoky all the time), but for the most part? My kid goes up to other kids to show them things. She touches kids who have boo boos, or comes to get me if one cries. She points and chatters at them, and touches their faces.

I guess that is parallel play, but she is also interacting. So is it "play-play?" I mean, dude, my undergrad degree was in cognitive development. I know little kids play next to each other. But SOMETIMES, just sometimes, a precocious one will interact, or try to. I may have a slightly precocious kid, she walked at 11 months, she tries to say "good morning" and kisses us to wake us up, she has a lot of words (that only we understand) and she mimics everything. She also likes to be around kids. No shy violet, ours.

One friend corrected me multiple times that my kid doesn't "really play" with other kids. Sorry, but yes, she does. In crowds, sure, she's overwhelmed by people and sort of acts stunned by attention. But put her in with a group of strange kids at the playground, and she's holding their hands, pointing, giving and receiving hugs, staring wistfully at the slides and swings...but ignore other kids like they are toys? Hardly. She chatters at them and laughs and hugs them. The only time she looks shocked is when they knock her down and she flails and gets back up. Which always makes me think of that dumb song "I get knocked down, but I get up again..." blah blah.

I will take some pics. Should be interesting.

Me, my friend Kim and two 1-year-olds.

Grilled cheese and turkey with tomato soup is on the menu.

Can't wait!

We have our first official "play date" tomorrow. They will play with Beanie's toys, and they are roughly the same age (3 weeks apart, the closest "playmate" she's ever had.) I always call Sage and Sadie her 'Best Friends', but that's mostly because I love their moms and we do fun things together when we are around each other. All three babies get along together, and play. Sort of. My kid has never been on an actual "play date" except birthday parties and holidays, which tend to be crowded, but she's still pretty sociable. The only really challenging interaction she gets with other kids is at those times, or when we go to the park. So this whole thing is going to be an experiment in one-on-one play.

And I'm just going to drink coffee and watch.