Whether your child has ADHD or other special needs, is in accelerated learning programs for gifted children, or seems outgoing with her friends, the classroom environment presents a challenging social gauntlet. "Other children tend to focus on kids who are different and can be very cruel," EmpoweringParents notes. Give your kids the social tools they need to be feel comfortable in the classroom setting.
Talk to Your Child
Step 1
Acknowledge your child's differences. Children with learning, physical or behavioral differences recognize that they view the world differently than some of their peers, notes EmpoweringParents. Insisting that your child shouldn't worry because he's "just like everyone else" has the opposite effect—he now worries more because he feels no one understands her. Let your child talk freely about the differences between him and his peers.
Step 2
Stay objective in front of your child. Avoid the gut-impulse to overreact if your child tells you how mean other girls are or repeats things children have said to her. Showing immediate anger could discourage your child from bringing up future problems.
Step 3
Empathize with your child. Relate a story from your own childhood about teasing or feeling left out, recommends EmpoweringParents. Verbalize emotions your child is feeling by saying things like, "If someone said that to me, I'd feel really sad," or "You must feel discouraged after a day like that."
Step 4
Put the problem in perspective. When your child struggles socially, she needs to know two things: she's not alone and there is help. Learning that other children experience the same thing "right-sizes" the problem, says EmpoweringParents. Work together to brainstorm ideas to improve the situation, such as meeting with her teachers, checking out helpful book or researching the issue on the Internet.
Step 5
Teach your child how to read social situations, suggests EmpoweringParents. Role play with your child to help him recognize different clues in facial expressions, body language and voice inflections and tones. Discuss conversation topics that other people often find uncomfortable. Teach your child to recognize and avoid antagonistic students.
Step 6
Enroll your child in extracurricular activities, such as youth sports, art classes, music lessons or religious youth groups, suggests KidsHealth. Your child will practice his social skills among peers guaranteed to have at least one mutual interest, and he'll be more relaxed doing something he enjoys.
Communicate with Teachers
Step 1
Serve as an advocate for your child by communicating with her teachers and administrators, suggests HelpGuide. Schedule meetings in advance instead of dropping by so your child's teacher can bring appropriate information or notes.
Step 2
Listen. Your child's teacher sees her in a completely different environment than you do and may have observed behaviors that can help you both understand her better. Encourage her teacher to share concerns, questions and observations of your child's behavior, recommends HelpGuide.
Step 3
Share your child's background. Teachers can juggle as many as 30 students with different learning needs, backgrounds and behavior triggers. Give your child's instructor information that will help him respond constructively to your child's needs, suggests HelpGuide. Tell him how you discipline your child at home, what works and what doesn't. Inform him of any verbal triggers that cause your child to feel attacked or uncomfortable.
Step 4
Develop a behavior plan and social goals you can share with teachers, suggests HelpGuide. Ask for weekly reports of your child's social successes, such as volunteering to answer questions, engaging in productive group work or making new friends.
Step 5
Reinforce your child's accomplishments at school by rewarding her at home, suggests EduGuide. Give tangible rewards, like candy and toys, or intangible rewards, like verbal praise. Give bigger rewards when your child takes big social risks, like volunteering to be in a play or joining a new club.
