Helping Your Child Make Friends
While some children find it easy to make friends, others simply don’t. And while this isn’t uncommon, there are a few things that you can do to make sure that your child is given the opportunities and the social skills to make friends at their own pace. From organising play dates to playing with toys with your kids, we’ve got some great tips to boost your child’s social skills to make it easier for them to build relationships:
Play With Your Children
Playing with your children with their toys is important. Not only will it help your child build skills in playing with others, but it will give you a clear indication on where your child may struggle when using certain games and puzzles. You will then be able to see which activities to organise for a play date and what items your child may struggle with and are therefore best to leave out.
Arrange Play Dates
Organise play dates with other children who are of a similar age. If you don’t know who your child would like to invite over, ask them. If you don’t have contact details of parents, you can always talk to their teacher. It’s best to keep these play dates short, so that things don’t have a chance to get boring or little ones get tired and end up having a bad time. Organise activities for them to do that you know your child enjoys and is good at. This will help he/she feel comfortable and less nervous about interacting.
Keep the Play Dates Regular
Once your child shows that they are having a good time and enjoying the play dates you set up for them with certain other children, then you should try to discuss with the parents to repeat the play dates once a week. You can always change the location to a park or the other person’s home. Once your child is leaving you to run off and play, you may want to see how they go by leaving them on a play date under the supervision of the other parent for a few hours.
The Latest ‘IT’ Toys
Sometimes a great way to help boost your child’s self confidence in the playground is to give them something that they are able to talk to other children about. Look at some of the latest online toys with your child and ask them what’s the ‘it’ thing at the moment. This may help them to establish common ground with other kids and give your child a chance to join in activities during recess and lunch times.
Show Your Children How You Interact With Your Friends
Children will always observe and often mimic your behaviour. If you have your own friends over and they see you having a good time, they will get a positive impression of what friendship is about. If possible, invite friends over that also have children so that you can have a double play date.
Once you know how to give your child the relevant skills and support, you’ll find that in their own time, they will develop the confidence and the social skills necessary to get out there and make friends on their own.
