Teaching social skills to your child at a young age helps him learn appropriate behaviors. He learns how to interact with peers and adults in various social settings. Pointing out specific behaviors as your child does them offers an effective way to teach him which ones are acceptable. Patience and consistency aid in the social skills teaching process.
Define Expectations
Expressing your expectations for your child's social behaviors sets the stage for teaching him the corresponding skills. Tell your child specifically how he should act in a particular situation, using concise directions. For example, you might tell your child he needs to let his sister take a turn on the slide before he goes again. Setting general behavior rules for your child creates a solid foundation of positive social interactions.
Modeling Behavior
Most children learn how to act by observing others, according to the National Network for Child Care. Modeling the social skills you want your child to learn gives her a positive example. It's easy to tell a child to share her toys, but consider how often you share your own possessions. Look at the way you treat others, from the cashier at the grocery store to your own children. Talking to everyone in a kind, respectful manner teaches your child to do the same.
Role Playing
Practicing specific social skills offers kids a hands-on approach to learning how to behave, according to the Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Online website. Demonstrate the specific social skill you want your child to learn. For example, you may demonstrate how to ask someone for a toy that you want to play with rather than just grabbing it. Give your child a chance to practice the behavior in the role-playing scenario. Praise your child when he does the expected behavior. You may need to remind your child in actual social situations to continue reinforcing the social skill.
Emotional Consequences
Teaching kids about emotions helps them realize how their actions affect others. The National Network for Child Care recommends showing pictures of faces that depict different emotions. Have the kids identify the emotions and think of different situations that might cause those emotions. Apply this concept to particular social situations. If your child hits her brother, ask her how she thinks it makes her brother feel. Getting the kids to think about how their actions affect others may help them make better decisions.
