ScottCounseling

Parents searching for some positive ideas to help their child make and keep friends will find these helpful strategies easy to use and implement. Parents searching for more ideas should go to Ask a Counselor for additional help and assistance with “advanced Strategy” ideas.

Build Social Skills - Encourage Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities

Encourage your child to participate in plays, drama, band clubs, sports, community education programs, YMCA, summer camps, science clubs and more! During the school year, tell your child that you want them to get involved with “one activity at school” and “one activity out of school.” many churches offer programs that are excellent in encouraging appropriate social interaction and friend- making opportunities.

Activities To Help Learning Disabled or Special Needs Children Build Social Skills

If your child has special needs, learning disability or ADD/ADHD, please read the article on “ADHD and making Friends” in the ADD/ADHD Category of ScottCounseling.

Help Kids Develop Friendships and Social Skills in Easy-to-Manage Steps

• Teach your child to smile and greet others.

• Teach your child the art of polite questioning: Ask students or other children how their day is going, comment on the weather, classroom activities, or compliment their work in class or other positive statements.

Building Social Skills and Making Friends Takes Practice

Allow you child time to practice with you, another adult family members or someone they trust. They should greet you (as a friend) or ask an older sister to do something with him or her in the same manner that you would want them asking a potential friend.

Practicing Social Skills - Role Play Social Situations

While you are practicing, role play. The parent can pretend to be the “friend,” the child “the friend maker.”

Work on Game and Sportsmanship Social Skills in Advance

Before your child participates in any activity, teach sportsmanship, gamesmanship and any other manner required to become socially acceptable. Don’t over teach! Part of socialization is learning from trial and error. For example, if you child is going to join a softball team, it appropriate to teach and encourage the use of positive words. Share with your child that telling another child after he or she strikes out, “that’s o.k., you will do better next time,” will lead to friendship than, “You are not very good.”

Team With the Teachers and Activity Leaders

Communicate with your child’s teachers, coaches and activity leaders that you are encouraging your child to make friends and become more social. Many teachers and activity leaders are trained and willing to help your child reach this goal.

Schedule Fun Time and Make Friends a Priority

While some children go out of their way to avoid doing homework so that they can spend time with their friends, others bury themselves in school assignments, reading and quiet time alone. Share with your child the importance of living a “balanced” life that includes time for work and time for play.

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