3 easy tips for helping your child develop their social skills

Being able to communicate, express happiness, concern and a range of other emotions is a crucial part of a child’s development in order to succeed in school, in future career prospects as well as in life in general.

Some kids are naturally keen to socialise, while others can be more reserved and need an extra helping hand. This guide from an independent school in London takes a look at the ways you can boost your child’s social ability.

Make them take part in extra-curricular activities

Having your child attend some form of extracurricular activity each week will give them plenty of opportunities to speak to friends, make new friends and form different connections with others. They’ll be needing to communicate with others on a regular basis, and it’s also a great way to practice their team building skills.

They could take up a hobby like football, tennis, martial arts, join a local scouts organisation or attend one of the many clubs their school can offer.

Encourage them to bring their friends over for dinner

Meet who your child hangs around with at school to understand their social skills and what impact they have on your child, and vice versa. It’s a good way of seeing who your child looks up to/ bonds and feels comfortable with, and what interests they may have growing up with the current friends they have.

Involve different people during free-play time

Seeing only their parents most of the day can make your child feel comfortable and secure, but if you want them to move out of this familiar comfort zone, then involve different people in their lives so there can be varied interactions. Involve any siblings, relatives or close friends in their free play time and see how they speak to each other. It’s also good practice for them to learn about different emotions from new faces and how to read people’s faces as best they can.