How can I help my child with social skills?
Are you ever amazed by the ease that other children demonstrate in navigating their social world when your own child struggles with simple social interactions? Do other children seem to have the ability to get along with everyone while your own child has difficulty maintaining even one or two friendships? The differences that you are noticing come down to the presence and absence of social skills.
What are social skills?
Social skills are the communication, problem-solving, decision making, self-management, and peer relation abilities that allow our children to initiate and maintain positive social relationships with others. Many children seem to develop these skills simply by watching others. However, many children need some extra help to succeed socially.
Improving social skills
If your child is struggling socially getting help is important! In addition to developing and maintaining friendships, social competence is linked to peer acceptance, teacher acceptance, inclusion success, and post school success. Because social competence is not something that is usually taught explicitly children who need help developing their social skills can benefit from formal social skills training.
What is social skills training?
Social skills training breaks down complex social behaviors into smaller steps that can be learned one at a time. For example, the process of inviting someone to play on the playground would be broken down into multiple steps (notice the other children at the playground, think about what game you want to play, choose someone to approach, etc.). Social Skills training often includes specific behavioral techniques including instruction, modeling, role-playing, shaping, feedback, and reinforcement of positive interactions.
How can I tell if my child has problems with social skills?
Children who struggle with social skills may have trouble making friends and maintaining friendships. Children who need help developing their social skills demonstrate a variety of behaviors that can get in the way of social success:
Talks too much
Shares information in inappropriate ways
Relies on adults to get information
Doesn’t understand facial expressions
Is overly literal and doesn’t get riddles and sarcasm
Withdraws from conversations with peers
Prefers talking to adults rather than other kids
Has trouble taking turns
Interrupts or blurts out answers
Wants things immediately
Doesn’t give others the chance to speak
Is a poor listener and loses the point of what’s being said
Gives up easily on tasks, even in group activities
Constantly moves around and fidgets
Has little interest in social interactions
Goes off-topic or monopolizes conversations
Doesn’t adapt language to different situations or people
Doesn’t give background information when speaking to an unfamiliar person
Doesn’t know how to properly greet people, request information or gain attention
Is overly literal and doesn’t understand riddles and sarcasm
Has trouble understanding nonverbal communication
Has difficulty understanding things that aren't spelled out
Next Ssteps
If you are concerned about your child's social skills or have received a social communication disorder diagnosis for your child that you need support with Edgar Psychological can help.
Psychologists that specialize in social skills
Our psychologists have extensive experience providing treatment for children and adolescents who struggle with social skills:
References
Advameg, Inc. (2018 ). Social skills training. Retrieved from Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders: http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Social-skills-training.html
Patino, E. (2018). Understanding Your Child’s Trouble with Social Skills. Retrieved from Understood.org: https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/social-skills-issues/understanding-childs-trouble-with-social-skills
