2 Signs Your Child’s Social Skills Could Use a Boost
The first five years are known to be extremely crucial for the social-emotional development of an individual. It is also at this age that your child tends to be the most curious about others, form their first friendships, initiate play, and learn more about interacting in large groups.
At that age, children develop social skills by interacting with others. They learn how to build and strengthen relationships, resolve conflicts and eventually make peace with others. If your child’s social skills are not developed properly at that age, relationships with peers may be affected. Read on to learn about the behavioral signs to look out for in order to know that your child’s social skills require your attention and guidance.
Your Child Gets Easily Upset
Most of us assume that it is normal for children to overreact to small matters. However, this can be a sign that your child is having difficulties with their social-emotional skills. Children who easily get agitated by friends’ teasing or break into tears are often shunned by peers their age. If your child is often upset after interacting with peers, it is important for you to intervene as a parent.
You can talk to your child nicely and begin with a question like, “He might have just been playing around with you, but if you don’t like what he is doing, why don’t you try telling him that you would like him to stop?”
It is, however, important to differentiate between a case of playful teasing and a case of bullying. If your child is being bullied, then you should of course seek help from the relevant authorities if necessary.
Your Child Teases and Bullies Others
On the other hand, your child may be the one to take teasing too far and end up bullying their peers. What is most concerning is that your child may be misguided and habitually make others feel uncomfortable with antagonistic behaviors. In this case, you will need to keep your child’s aggressiveness in check and teach proper behavior. If efforts do not seem to be effective, then it is advisable that you seek professional help to address their aggression.
However, some other kids may use annoying and bullying others as a way to attract attention. In this case, you might want to convince your kid that if they keep bullying others, others may end up not liking them. There are better ways to get noticed and for the right reasons, such as by helping others in need or by excelling at something. There are also other ways to channel the aggressive energy, perhaps into competitive sports.
Of course, the best way to improve a child’s social skills is through more social interactions, especially in controlled classroom environments. It is important to enroll your kid in learning centers that have a good student-to-teacher ratio, such as five students to one teacher, as the teacher-in-charge can easily spot any inappropriate behavior and intervene on time. At JEI Learning Center, the instructors are well qualified and classes are small. Find your nearest JEI Learning Center now so that your child can study in a safe and closely monitored environment today!
