7 social skills you must teach your child

Social skills play a big role in our relationships as they guide our daily interaction with others. One of the main roles of a parent is to equip their children with social skills, most of which may not come naturally.

Your child’s relationships will depend highly on the social skills they pick along the way. Social skills also impact the overall success in the lives of your children. Here are some of the social skills you can teach them;

Asking for help

Create a comfortable space for your child to know that they can seek help when it gets too hard. Discourage the notion that they have to achieve it all by themselves and encourage them to embrace teamwork.

You can do this by assigning tasks he/she can do with their siblings or group of friends. Let them work together in getting results and share credit.

Sharing

Sharing is an important skill for kids to have. It teaches them to be kind and accepting of others. This also helps them make and keep friends, which is an important aspect of child development.

An example is encouraging them to share their toys with other kids during playtime and instil this trait by praising them when they do so.

Image: Lane kids

Asking permission

Teach your child not to be impulsive with their actions. Instead, train them to ask if something is okay before carrying on. This applies to touching people’s items, going out to play and any other activity that requires a go-ahead from an adult.

Respecting personal space

Growing up, children tend to struggle with personal space. It is upon you to let them know what distance is uncomfortable and what’s right. Teach them to knock on closed doors and know when their probing is not accepted. Let them also know when to keep their hands to themselves.

Patience

Patience helps a child accept delayed gratification which in turn improves their acceptance of making effort for rewards. Make the wait a positive experience that brings a reward for them. Ensure that you keep your promise so that they do not feel their wait was meaningless.

Accepting ‘No’ for an answer

Children who cannot take ‘no’ for an answer become entitled. This means they will expect rewards without putting in the required effort. Teach them that ‘no’ does not mean a disability on their part. Let them know that everyone has a choice and can accept or decline their opinions or demands.

Forgiveness

Teach your child to be forgiving and understanding of others. They should not hold grudges or seek revenge when wronged. Instead, they should learn to forgive and let go.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Conclusion

Apart from maintaining relationships, social skills are necessary and will come in decision making and problem-solving. These skills guide their day-to-day choices and activities, making them socially acceptable and confident.

Featured image/UNICEF Connect