How can you help your child develop these skills as a parent? We’re so glad you asked!
Model Positive Behaviour:
Children learn first and foremost from what they see and experience around them, demonstrate positive social interactions for your child to emulate.
Encourage Empathy:
Through the activities provided you can help to teach your child to recognise, understand and respect others’ feelings
Highlight social themes when reading books:
When reading those night-time stories take time to pause and encourage your child to identify the body ‘clues’ that the characters are displaying (e.g. Bluey is sad, we can tell because her mouth is turned down, her eyebrows are low, and her head is tipped down).
Model turn-taking and sportsman ship:
When playing games at home encourage turn-taking, appropriate winning and losing and sportsman like behaviour. These skills translate to effective play skills during peer playtime.
Encourage playdates and low-key social time:
Often for our little ones still developing their social skills interactions that require sitting and talking can be daunting. Instead try scaffolding play to encourage social time in a low-pressure environment. Often providing an activity (such as painting, drawing, craft, etc) to be the focus allows for social interaction to happen naturally.