There’s nothing as painful for a parent as watching your kid grapple with making friends and figuring out how to fit in. You pick your kid up from school and see them sitting by themselves, huddled up in a corner, staring at their lunch bag. You ask them how they feel, and they mumble something about loneliness. It’s an unfortunate moment for any parent. And one you might find yourself in if you have a kid with ADHD. So how can you help develop your kids’ social skills?
The key to preventing your kids from becoming socially isolated is to help them develop social skills.
To teach your kid social skills, you must observe them closely. Do they look you in the eye when you start a conversation? Are they easily distracted, or do their eyes light up with excitement? Are they nervous when talking with their friends?
These clues can help you understand why your kid has social skills problems. And once you know, it’s time to get to work.
But never force the issue if you know or suspect your kid to have a neurodivergent brain, be it ADHD or maybe autism. If these diagnoses are present there is a ton of information on the internet to help you out, as every kid is different and a one size fits all approach never works.
So how can you help your kid develop social skills and begin to feel more comfortable in new situations? Here are some ideas:
- Motivate your kid to maintain eye contact. Eye contact helps others feel comfortable around you. It also enables you to convey your personality.
- Encouraging your kid to maintain eye contact helps them feel more comfortable in social settings. It might seem like a simple thing. But it can make an enormous difference if a child feels insecure in a new situation.
- Teach them to ask the right questions. Too many children — especially socially awkward children — worry that they’ll say the wrong thing. But questions are great for starting and holding conversations.
- Teach your kid to ask good questions by pretending to be a reporter. Act as if you’re interviewing your kid about their collections. Then swap roles. You’ll notice your kid’s confidence skyrocket.
- Find out their interests. Children have different things that interest them. But you may usually find that they have a favorite hobby. Involve yourself in their interests. Invite a friend or two to join them in one of their favorite activities.
- Understand your kid’s limits. Everyone socializes in different ways. Children are the same. An introvert may feel more comfortable chatting with friends over text, while an extrovert prefers face-to-face interactions.
- Avoid trying to force your “right” way of doing things onto your kid. Allow them to choose how they interact with their peers, whether it’s through live conversations or online chats.
- Teach them the value of listening. Effective listening is one of the most critical aspects of social interaction.
- Whether your kid wants to engage in a group discussion or a conversation with a friend, they must be mindful of how they listen. Listening to teachers is integral to getting the most out of education at school.
- Play turn-based games. A turn-based game is one in which each player makes their move in turn rather than concurrently.
- A game like that can help children gain valuable social skills by teaching them how to wait and be patient. Your kid’s skills from playing these games will set the foundation for social success throughout their life.
- Teach them to respect personal space. Some children like to come physically close when they’re talking.
- While there’s no harm in this, your kid must understand that it’s rude to invade other people’s personal space. Being able to listen and speak to others respectfully is a crucial skill.
Social skills are essential to a happy, fulfilling life. It’s never too early to start teaching your kid social skills. It might be a challenge initially, but with patience and perseverance, your kid will thank you for it. And remember, social interaction is an important life lesson for your kid.