“It’s a learning process as plenty of children come in and can’t do these things, ” says Judy Smizik who taught kindergarten for 36 years while also serving as an instructional teacher leader, and as an intervention specialist. Pro Tip: Role-playing some common social scenarios at home may help your kids practice their conversational skills. Therefore, show your child how you use the same skill. But a few red flags could indicate that something else is going on. Is your child ready for a pet? 4.

It does not mean your child will fail socially if he or she does not have these traits. But sometimes, kids need some help taking the first step or learning how to relate to others their own age. Sometimes this requires a little intervention from you–for instance, if you notice your child seems to be spending a lot of time with a particular classmate, take the initiative to set up a playdate and help them get to know each other better. If at age 3, your child rarely holds eye contact, is unusually withdrawn, doesn't want to play with other children, or seems terrified of going to preschool or the playground, talk to your child's doctor.

It’s easier and simpler to jump in and solve a problem for a child. The answer depends on your child. However, Alina Adams, a school consultant and the author of the Amazon best-seller, “Getting Into NYC Kindergarten,” works with dozens of families every year to find the best school for their child, speaks to groups and contributes to a national blog, New York School Talk, cautions parents to have patience.
Being able to greet peers is an important step to making friends. Adams adds there’s a wide spectrum of what is appropriate and some of these things such as making friends and figuring out apropos behavior in new situations are life-long processes. Unless you notice concerning or problematic behavior, don’t push your child to adopt a “proper” type of social interaction. Have your own friends over. There are a few traits that are particularly important: a willingness to take turns, empathy, asking for help in a calm way, ability to express feelings, and a sense of responsibility. In most cases, shyness or difficulty making friends in early childhood is normal. Each day read a … It might be the first time they are away from home for an extended period of time. You can do some role-playing on your own too. By the time your preschooler reaches age 3, his interactions with other children will be more involved. “These sort of outings help children feel comfortable with other children that are not familiar to them,” says Smizik. Kindergarten is a huge step for children, full of excitement and, for many, anxiety. There are bound to be unfamiliar children there with their own agendas. Before jumping to conclusions, there are two things to do. Discover the schools, companies, and neighborhoods that are right for you. Helping preschoolers make friends during play Giving your child the chance to play with other children from preschool or playgroup can help … These traits include a willingness to take turns, empathy, asking for help in a calm way, ability to express feelings, and a sense of responsibility.
You don't want to really push friendship, but you can certainly set the stage for it," Walker says. As much as we parents want our children to flourish academically, our concerns often revolve around social issues. Additionally, remember that your child learns more from you than you realize. Let your child see you being friendly and outgoing when you answer the phone or when you chat with neighbors or people at the grocery store. The time frame could vary depending upon the structure of the classroom. Everyone wants to know their child will go to kindergarten and make friends.

She adds, “Teachers are constantly facilitating and modeling such behaviors and positively reinforcing when a child demonstrates the proper behaviors.”. It will also require taking turns. Even if a child is struggling socially, parents and guardians should broach the subject with their children with caution.

Does your child seem to be struggling to make friends at school? The transition can be challenging, as Smizik notes the month of September is the toughest one for teachers and students as they are adjusting to the environment and routines. As parents, we have a million things to do in a day, and we sometimes forget to stop and take the time to allow our children to struggle.

This allows you to stimulate interaction while getting to know his playing style. Required fields are marked *. Forcing your child into a situation they don’t want to be in is likely to backfire, and trying to pressure them to act more like someone else sends a message that a more reserved nature is wrong. Connect with us to learn more about helping your children develop their social skills. …, Most K-12 schools throughout the country are now requiring students to take a world language as a graduation requirement. #WoodlandsTreeHouse #childdevelopment #parenting, Staying Healthy During the COVID-19 Outbreak, How to Help Your Child Make Friends at School, School Supplies: A Complete Checklist & Shopping Tips. There are bound to be unfamiliar children there with their own agendas. It doesn’t automatically mean that your child is overly shy or that they’ll be doomed in the future. Teach Your Child How to Make Friends.

Here are a few ways you can help them develop their social skills. While modeling can be done throughout the day, a particularly good place to practice behaviors is the playground.