 Social Skill Tips |
Social Skills Starters
As your children grow and become more independent, the need for strong social skills will become increasingly apparent. Social interaction takes many forms and has many purposes. Strong social skills can help children assert their needs, enjoy friendships and in some cases, even save their lives. Here are some tips to help guide your child toward strengthening their social skills.
| Take One Thing at a Time |
Make a list of your child's weakest points regarding social skills. Do they become shy around new people? Do they have trouble playing nicely with peers? Are they afraid to raise their hand in class to ask a question? Once you have identified the top priority, you can commit to focusing on creating change. This will prevent frustration for both you and your child by not attempting to change everything at once. Be sure to track your teaching strategies and child's progress to determine what has / has not been effective. This will prevent your child from feeling overwhelmed by a barrage of corrections and criticisms.
| Work as a Team |
Once you've pinpointed an area for improvment, consider discussing it with your child. Always keep the focus of the conversation on discussing the solution, not rehashing the problem. Make suggestions for strategies that might help the child acquire the desired skill. For example, would a regular play date with the same child increase their confidence? Would they like to try to practice their phone skills with Grandma once a week? Would they like to create flashcards to help remember what to say when they'd like to invite other children over to play? Give your child the opportunity to assert some control over the manner in which they learn. Keep an open dialogue and encourage their efforts. Success is much more likely when you make change a team approach.
| Show and Tell |
Children learn how to behave by watching their primary caregivers. So take the opportunity to show the desired behavior first, and then tell the importance of your actions. Remember to put the emphasis on the showing rather than the telling. For example, if your child is shy around strangers such as sales clerks, make a "show and tell" out of your next trip to the grocery store. Show your child the friendly way in which you greet and make eye contact with the checkout clerk. Show your child how to inquire where a certain items using the appropriate phrases. Then, on your way out to the car, tell your child the importance of these skills. Be advised that if you attempt to do the "telling" before the "showing", your child is likely to point out any inconsistencies in your behavior faster than you can say "Do as I say and not as I do."
Authors:
Allison Hanley, BS/BA
Charlotte Fudge, BCABA Contact Us
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