Social skills are skills that promote effective communication with others, it includes verbal and nonverbal communication. Most of the time children learn social skills by observation. In their day-to-day life, they observe their peers, relatives, teachers, and most importantly parents.

As a parent, you can try the following tips to develop social skills in your kids.

Practice Role Playing:

Pretend-play, with both younger and older children, is a great way for kids to actively practice their social skills. Have your child pretend to be the person they have difficulty talking to or getting along with. This will give you an idea of what this person is like, or at least how your child perceives this particular person. Then switch roles to see how your child does when pretending to interact with the person.

Suggest ways your child can more effectively talk with the individual. Don’t forget to include body language, such as smiling and making eye contact, when advising your child.

Teach Empathy:

If children have a better understanding of how others feel, they are much more likely to feel connected to other people and form positive bonds. Parents suggest teaching empathy by talking about different situations and scenarios with your child.

Ask how other people might feel when each of these things happens. Part of teaching empathy is to help children learn how to actively listen to others. This involves focusing on what others are saying and then thinking about what the speaker has said once the conversation is over.

Know Your Child’s Limits:

Some children are simply more social than others. A child who is shy and introverted should not be expected to interact in the same way as a naturally outgoing child. Some children are comfortable in large settings, while others find it easier to relate to their peers when in smaller groups.