Watching a child struggle to make friends can be frustrating for any parent. But there are ways to improve your child’s social skills; this is something you can help them with! Increasing socialization is a reason why some parents homeschool their children.
Learn how you can help them fit into social settings and make them better humans in the process!
Cater to Interests
An excellent way for your son or daughter to feel more confident with children their age is for them to be around kids with the same interests. Some ideas include:
- Participating in a favorite sport
- Learning to play an instrument
- Enrolling in an art or dance class
Exposing them to an activity they love will give them a natural ice breaker, and having them focus on new skills will make them less conscious of themselves.
Ask Questions
Teaching your children to ask questions when they’re nervous or stuck in a conversation lag is a great tool they can carry into adulthood. Forming connections begins with asking about the other person. So, encourage your child to ask questions that initiate conversations and don’t prompt a yes or no as an answer.
Learning to be curious about others is an excellent gateway into teaching them about empathy, too.
Emphasize Empathy
Learning empathy will help your child feel more connected to their peers and help them form bonds. But how do you do this? You can talk to them about situations they might find their friends in and the appropriate way to respond by asking how that person feels.
Being taught empathy will also make them active listeners, another great trait in a friend.
Do Role-Playing
When you’re talking to your child about being empathetic or handling a difficult social situation, you could role-play with them. Begin by having them pretend to be the child they were having trouble getting along with. Then, switch roles. Placing them in the shoes of the other child will give them another perspective.
Remind them to use eye contact and show them how to read body language. Use their empathy skills to consider how that child may feel and how that affects their communication.
Be a Role Model
When you’re thinking about ways to improve your child’s social skills, don’t forget you’re a huge factor, too. Kids model their behavior after the adults in their lives. Be aware of how you interact with others—your child is learning from watching!
