Ways to Help Your Child Make Friends

Help Your Child Make Friends

It can be difficult to sit back and watch your child struggle to make friends. You can, however, take some steps to assist them in learning to form friendships. Once you understand the skills that children require to make friends, you can serve as their personal coach and assist them in developing those skills. Developing your child's emotional, social, and self-regulation skills will greatly assist them in navigating the complexities of making friends.

However, remember to be patient with your child while assisting them. Being a kid can be difficult enough without having friends. You want to encourage them without increasing their anxiety.

1. Begin with the familiar ground.

Children who lack confidence in social situations are often more at ease in their own homes. Plan a playdate on your child's home turf where everything is familiar and he is not overwhelmed by being in a new environment. Practicing and rehearsing social skills in a safe and warm setting will help your child learn social cues and age-appropriate social skills.

2. Exercise outside the home

As your child grows more at ease, assist her in expanding her comfort zone beyond the home. Take her to a park and select another child to approach. Perhaps it's just a smile at first, followed by a hello. Then move on to exchanging names. From there, practice asking to participate in the game and then inviting others to do the same. Eventually, your child will feel more at ease and will be able to sequence the steps on her own.

3. Stand by as a mentor.

Be present to guide your children from the sidelines while allowing them to explore and develop their own social skills. The natural consequences of their actions teach children. Making new friends and trying new things requires trial and error, which helps to build resilience and grit.

4. Act as an emotional coach.

At home, children first learn about social and emotional skills, which are essential for communication and making friends. Help your child identify and name bodily sensations (such as angry, sad, calm, and happy) and select strategies to regulate their bodies. Using a Calming Corner is an excellent way to provide a safe space for children to express themselves and lay the groundwork for self-awareness, social awareness, empathy, problem-solving, and making amends. Knowing these emotions can help them feel confident enough to overcome social barriers.

5. Participate in games

Several studies have found that children feel more at ease participating in cooperative games and activities with a common goal than in competitive games. If your child is just beginning to develop social skills, this could be a good place to start.

However, games in general can help your child learn a variety of skills such as communication, impulse control, taking turns, interpreting social situations, and more. When your child has mastered a game, encourage them to invite a sibling or a friend to join them.

6. Read a book

Children learn so much from the wonder and play of a good book. Look for books about friendship, compassion, sharing, and inclusion, as well as books about self-love and self-esteem. Discuss what the characters may be feeling, why they chose certain actions, and what they could do differently as you read. Your child will learn a lot about friendship by exploring the story's characters.

Making friends does not always happen poof! overnight. Many important social-emotional skills are required, including self-awareness, empathy, problem-solving, communication, and others. Parents can start introducing these important tidbits at a young age and build on them as their child grows.