We all know that friendships are very important to children's social development and emotional well-being. Children who lack friends feel less connected to their school community, may do less well academically and behaviorally. If the trend continues throughout their formative years, they may also be more prone to anxiety and depression. This month 2nd graders are listening to this book:
There can be many reasons why a child struggles to connect with others, but it is often simply a lack in three basic social skills:
- How to break the ice with kids they don't know well (or at all). Initiating play with others is a bit intimidating, and can feel especially risky for the more introverted child. Try to objectively observe your child in new social settings and identify their strengths and weaknesses.
- Role play with children how to act positively and play cooperatively with others. Many children have difficulty compromising and letting others take the lead in play.
- Conflict resolution. Inevitably, disagreements will arise, and all children need skills to manage conflict constructively. This is another situation where you can role-play scenarios with your child.
Remind children that these are life-long skills EVERYBODY works on as they journey through life. We must remember that it is not necessary for a child to have dozens of friends, but the importance of one or two close friends cannot be underestimated.
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