Why Are Social Skills Important For Children?

Written by Michele Kamerman, M.A., LPC, RPT

Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist

Did you know that children start learning social skills from the time they are born?  They learn to interact with their caregivers with eye contact or facial expressions.  Children will continue to learn age appropriate social skills as they grow and develop, however; if a child is diagnosed with anxiety, ADHD, or autism for example, this can be more challenging to develop on their own.  The symptoms of these conditions can impede a child from developing these skills.  It is important to address these concerns because it could have an impact on a child’s future and their success. 

The development of social skills prepares children for healthy interactions as they grow.  It’s important to know how to relate and connect to others, communicate appropriately, and display empathy in relationships.  It is also crucial to develop social-emotional skills to help children manage their emotions in social situations.  If a child is not able to develop these skills on their own, the skills can be taught and learned.

As a social skills group facilitator the last five years, I have experience teaching children how to navigate many different social situations.  For example, if a child’s anxiety is impeding their social life, or if a child struggles with boundaries, we can teach the child how to manage the situation.  What I have found helpful is “retraining” the brain by practicing the difficult skill repeatedly.  This will help desensitize the brain and show the brain a more positive experience, which will help the skill feel easier to the child.  I have also addressed the social-emotional piece within the groups as well.  It is helpful to teach a child skills to manage their emotions, but it is also beneficial to see how a child manages their emotions in the moment and coach the child through their struggle.  Throughout the program, I have used play therapy, role-playing, team-building activities, and positive reinforcement to assist in teaching social skills.

Here are a list of characteristics that would make a child a good candidate for a social skills group:

·       Struggles to initiate or engage in a conversation with peers

·       Struggles to share the conversation and difficult to wait to talk

·       Difficulty staying on topic and thinking about surrounding peers

·       Issues with reading social cues, facial expressions, or body language

·       Issues with flexibility- taking turns, losing a game, compromising

·       Struggles with self-confidence and speaking up for self

·       Difficult to emotionally/self-regulate in a social setting

Social skills can be complex and can take time to master, but worth the time for a successful future. 

Contact us today to learn more about our group counseling options and how they could help your child build their social skills.

Reference:

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/importance-of-social-skills-raising-socially-intelligent-child-0102184