For some children, interacting in a social setting comes naturally. For other children, however, knowing how to engage and intermingle with those around them is more difficult to handle. If your children are having difficulty in social settings, here are a few ideas to help you improve your child’s social skills:
– Schedule play dates with other children, the sooner the better. Putting your kids in a social setting sooner rather than later can be highly beneficial. As you watch them interact with others take note and step in if something is off. For example, if they are not sharing teach them that they should share. If they are sitting alone and playing encourage them to play with others. Maybe play a game that requires working together.
– Sign them up for activities that will allow them to engage with other children. You may need to try a few different things to see what they gravitate towards. Try things like little league, scouts, karate, dance class, music lessons, other sports, etc… Then, once you find an activity they enjoy, encourage it. The more they are around children with like minded interests the more comfortable they will be coming out of their shell and interacting with others.
– Practice eye contact. This simple activity can immensely help a child’s social skills. You could have a staring contest, encourage them to look at you when either one of you are talking and tell them to look up instead of down when they are walking around.
– Teach by doing. Remember that your kids are always watching you so you should work on your own social skills if you are having trouble with them. Kids are constantly learning how to act by watching how you act. If you are being polite and courteous to those around you they are learning that is how to be polite and courteous. If you are stand offish, never making eye contact and constantly looking away from people you are teaching that too.