We’ve all seen those kids that seem to have a hard time getting along with others, or heard of the child that keeps getting into fights at school. These behaviors can sometimes be triggered by inadequate social skills. There are many reasons why children need to learn and practice their skills. If a child is struggling socially, they may not want to raise their hand and ask a question in class. They may find it difficult to make friends or play with other kids on the playground. Having strong social skills will help your children grow and learn at a healthy pace. How they interact with peers and how they see their parents interacting with them and others can give children confidence, self-control, independence, and empathy. Understanding the components involved in learning these skills will help you teach your children how to play well with others.

There are three main components involved with social skills, seeing, thinking, and doing. It’s important that children can see the way their parents and peers interact in social situations. Different situations require different reactions and seeing the situation allows them to pick up on cues that will help them better understand what’s happening around them. For example, if they see that their friend is looking bored, they can offer to play something new. Thinking is another essential component to a child’s social development. Children need to be able to interpret what their peer’s intentions are. Being able to determine if their friend’s jokes are for fun or if they are mean will help figure out how they should react to the situation. The last component is doing. It involves them interacting with their peers in a positive manner, by sharing, playing, and listening.

As a parent, it is important to teach and improve their children’s social skills. Doing this can sometimes be tricky as some kids pick up these skills easier than others and some need coaching. Learning to share, take turns, and letting others speak without being interrupted takes consistency on the part of the parents. When children do not display positive social interactions, it is important to encourage a better reaction in order to reinforce good habits. Sometimes a child might have a hard time making friends and in these circumstances it might be a good idea to schedule a play date with another parent. Shy kids may feel more at ease getting to know a friend if they are at their house, rather than in larger group settings like school. After becoming comfortable with one child they may have an easier time making more friends in a group setting.

Learning social skills is crucial to your child’s development. These skills will help them navigate their way through life and may determine how comfortable they are with people in the future. As a child grows, they may find some challenges easier with good social skills. The best time in their lives to sharpen their social skills is while they are young. Helping them will make you both much happier.