Six-year-olds are entering middle childhood. This is the time when children are becoming less dependent on their parents and more interested in friends. Six-year-old social skills are just beginning to bloom, and some parents worry when their children aren't getting along with other children, are timid or are having other difficulties playing with friends. Children develop at different paces and don't always get along with others because they are still learning social cues and skills. However, you can help your child play with her friends by giving her plenty of opportunities to do so and by being a positive role model.
Step 1
Model the social behavior you want your child to follow. Talk kindly to others, give true compliments and be generous to teach your child about sharing.
Step 2
Role-play with your daughter. If your child is having a difficult time playing with friends, use her dolls, puppets or stuffed animals to help show her how to get along with others. Observe what your child is having problems with and have the animal or doll have the same problem. Then show how to solve it. For example, if your child is unsure of approaching a friend and asking her to play with her, you can have a stuffed animal pretend to be afraid. You can then suggest to the animal to say, "Hi, my name is Kimberlee. Would you like to jump rope with me?" to show your child what she can say if she wants to play with someone.
Step 3
Be patient with your six-year-old. According to Great Schools, six-year-olds typically act selfish, easily get hurt feelings and like to show off. This is just a phase that is meant to help your child gain independence and learn about other people's feelings. Instead of punishing a child for these behaviors, ask him how he thinks the behavior made his friends feel in order to help him grow from the experience and be more sensitive to others.
Step 4
Invite her friends over to play. Only have over one or two playmates at a time to keep things more under control. You can set up games for the children to play and supervise to make sure they are getting along. Keep enough distance to allow your child to problem solve on her own and only step in if absolutely necessary. You will be able to offer her tips or advice on how to help her play with her friends by observing her.
Step 5
Visit parks and public places with other six-year-olds. Putting your child in an environment where he can play with others and practice making friends will help him gain more comfort in this skill.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are extremely concerned about your child's social development, talk to her teacher, guidance councilor or pediatrician for support.
