It seems that some people make friends with little effort while others struggle to build friendly relationships. According to psychologist Paul Coleman at Family Education, children with easy-going personalities have fewer difficulties making friends. With proper instruction however, any child can learn skills to successfully interact socially. The same techniques work for adolescents and adults who never learned important people skills when young.
Step 1
Build empathy in children so they can gauge the feelings of others. Point out how others are feeling at various times in different situations. Teach children to recognize their own feelings, so they can understand how others feel in similar situations. Empathy is an important skill that allows people to be friendly and care about other people.
Step 2
Model good manners so that your children can learn how to treat others. Potential friends welcome proper etiquette, kindness and gentleness, traits learned from parents and teachers. Very young children under the age of 5 are particularly receptive to learning behavior that pleases others. According to the Child Development Institute, manners are an important tool for children to get along socially in the world.
Step 3
Hug your child and tell him how great he is and how much you love him. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children who feel loved tend to be less anxious and protective. They are more receptive to the advances of other children and can share more easily because they do not need to have everything their own way to feel special. When children have appropriate attention at home, they can share the attention with others in social settings.
Step 4
Interact with a group of children to show them how to take turns asking questions and talking. Sit in a circle with a few kids, and encourage each child to tell the others a little about herself. Point out similarities. Pick out special traits and talents in each child. From this exercise, children learn how to initially interact with new people, open dialogue and get to know new friends.
Tips and Warnings
- Reinforce positive behavior. When you see your child playing nicely with new kids, tell him what a good boy he is to play so well with others and how much they enjoyed his company. Bring children to places they enjoy to they can practice their new social skills on a regular basis while having fun.
- Consult your pediatrician if your child has repeated problems playing with others, throws frequent unprovoked temper tantrums or has trouble following directions. Physical or mental conditions may get in the way of successful social interactions. Treatment for social disorders is treated more successfully when you catch it early.
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