Children today are lacking in social skills many parents realize. What do you do? The literature shows that social skills can be taught! That is the good news. Many children are absorbed with the electronic gadgets and do not pay attention to other people or seem interested in others. The following are some tips on how to encourage your child to be more socially skilled or sociable!
1. Manners are an important thing to teach your child. For example, saying hello when they walk into a room. Saying please and thank-you. Parents should prompt the child to do this. Do not begin the next activity until this one is completed. If you are going somewhere and they do not say hello or good morning then wait until the child says this to go. When they are well mannered use lots of smiles and praise and tell them and reciprocate with an excited hello and smile.
2. When talking to relatives or visitors children should realize they are expected to show appropriate social skills. Before the people arrive review what is expected with your child before allowing the visitor comes into the house. For example you might say listen I want you to say hello, shake their hand or wave or hug them, offer them a beverage, ask them how they are, ask them what they did today, tell them one thing you did today, ask about their family, help with any dishes if you eat. Describe what activity or reinforcer they will receive afterwards if they act politely to the visitor as described above. For example, after they leave you can play on your laptop otherwise you will have to wait for tommarrow. While they are speaking to visitors parents can show a lot of interest, smile and even rub their back or hug the child if they like that. Also, parents can say things like "isn't he smart", "isn't he considerate" or "he is so much fun'!
The above are a few examples, but the beneifit of doing this throughout the day is that you will have a child that is a joy to be with, fun to introduce to others and go places! Also, his life will be easier since he will already have the social skills for his future relationships at work and at home!
1. Manners are an important thing to teach your child. For example, saying hello when they walk into a room. Saying please and thank-you. Parents should prompt the child to do this. Do not begin the next activity until this one is completed. If you are going somewhere and they do not say hello or good morning then wait until the child says this to go. When they are well mannered use lots of smiles and praise and tell them and reciprocate with an excited hello and smile.
2. When talking to relatives or visitors children should realize they are expected to show appropriate social skills. Before the people arrive review what is expected with your child before allowing the visitor comes into the house. For example you might say listen I want you to say hello, shake their hand or wave or hug them, offer them a beverage, ask them how they are, ask them what they did today, tell them one thing you did today, ask about their family, help with any dishes if you eat. Describe what activity or reinforcer they will receive afterwards if they act politely to the visitor as described above. For example, after they leave you can play on your laptop otherwise you will have to wait for tommarrow. While they are speaking to visitors parents can show a lot of interest, smile and even rub their back or hug the child if they like that. Also, parents can say things like "isn't he smart", "isn't he considerate" or "he is so much fun'!
The above are a few examples, but the beneifit of doing this throughout the day is that you will have a child that is a joy to be with, fun to introduce to others and go places! Also, his life will be easier since he will already have the social skills for his future relationships at work and at home!
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