Social Skills
Social skills are fundamental to a child’s development, acting as the building blocks for their current wellbeing and future success.
What do good social skills look like?
- Being able to manage their feelings by recognising, naming and responding to them.
- Listening and sharing attention.
- Taking turns and waiting.
- Showing empathy.
- Using language to solve problems.
- Coping with disappointment and frustration.
- Sharing and cooperation.
- Initiating and joining in play and conversation.
- Respecting boundaries (own and others).
- Repairing relationships after conflict.
- Self-advocacy.
It is important to remember that the above skills are not a check list, they develop over time and need to be taught, modelled and practised through real life experiences.
Making Friends
A skill that takes time and effort, and in return so rewarding. Friendship helps children build confidence and self-esteem whilst bonding over shared experiences.
Tips to help your children make friends.
- Smile and say hello.
- Share and invite to play.
- Listen and ask questions.
- Play fair.
- Be kind with small acts of kindness.
- Practice cooperation.
- Handle conflicts calmly and ask for help when you need.
- Be yourself.
Social Skills Resources
Listening and Attention Skills
Book List
- ‘Don’t Hug Doug’ by Carrie Finison & Daniel Wiseman
- ‘My Body has a Bubble’ by Nell Harris
- ‘Harrison Spader, Personal Space Invader’ by Christianne Jones
- ‘Meesha Makes Friend’ by Tom Percival
- ‘The Squirrels Who Squabbled’ by by Rachel Bright
