Social Skills Training
To help children develop better social skills, parents might consider practicing certain strategies and tips at home, or hiring someone trained in social skills coaching to teach some basic strategies, including:
- How to initiate, maintain, and end a conversation
- The art of negotiation – how to compromise to get what you want in appropriate ways, without stepping on others’ feelings or rights
- How to be assertive without being aggressive
- How to apologize
- How to give and receive compliments
- Practice how to accept constructive criticism
- How to respond to teasing and bullying by peers
Bullying And Social Skills
Children with poor social skills are often the perfect victims, as they are usually on the periphery of the group and never quite fully involved. These vulnerable children are easy targets for bullies to single out without fear of repercussions from the rest of their classmates.
In other words, the isolation these children experience is fodder for future isolation. Therefore, it is important as parents and educators to help children gain the necessary social skills – not only for long-lasting relationships, but also to prevent potentially damaging social interactions as the child grows.