Gifting Children With Social Skills
Teaching social skills is a wonderful gift parents can give to children. Knowing how to behave in public and how to interact with people is invaluable throughout life. Social skills are “common sense” ways of respecting other people and living peacefully in a home, a neighborhood, a community, a society. Simply put, they are the practice of the Golden Rule. (The rule states: treat others as you expect others to treat you.) Although social skills are mostly for the benefit of others, there are hidden benefits for children. Knowing how to behave properly gives children social confidence. Children also thrive on the positive feedback from adults when they behave well.
How can parents teach their children social skills? One way is to set a good example. Children have to see parents behaving kindly and politely in public and at home to make the connection. It’s also vital for parents to be polite to their children. Although parents are within their rights to say, “Pick up your toys,” adding “please” not only gets the message across but gives a lesson in courtesy. Another way to teach social skills is for parents to rehearse new or unfamiliar situations with children. Play “restaurant” or “birthday party” with a teddy bear. At first, play the part of the well-behaved bear to show what’s expected. Then, let the bear do something rude to see if your child corrects him.
Practicing the art of conversation is also a good way to teach the social skill of greeting people and being friendly. Emphasize the importance of this skill with comments, such as “There’s our neighbor, Betty. Let’s go and say hello.” Play-act desired behavior with pets and toys: “Why hello Barney! Did you have a nice day at preschool? What did you play with today?”
Learning social skills will help children with every aspect of their lives, now and in the years to come. Having these skills modeled for them, as well as using them, will prepare children to be better members of families and society as a whole.