This is the 21st century, and we’re living in 2021. This simply implies that we need to come out of our cocoon and act wisely. That being said, this does not apply to kids. Kids learn what we teach them. As a result, we need to be socially active to learn some of the basic yet essential social skills. Strong social sense and skills lead to social acceptance. Moreover, the more kids are socially active, the more they’ll grasp and learn. Besides, kids with such skills can reap immediate benefits.
If you weren’t aware of this, one of the studies indicated that explorative social skills could reduce stress in children bound in daycare settings. These skills are a specific set that needs refinement when kids grow older. They are not something that a child can learn or unlearn. Instead, they tend to pick these skills and strengthen them with practice, exposure, and effort. So, as a parent, consider implementing teachable sessions where you help your child do better while interacting. Well, the argument stands – some social skills are relatively complicated and tricky to master.
You need to teach your child to be assertive when their friend is getting bullied. This is one such benefit of understanding social skills. Let’s check out its benefits.
Benefits
Social skills provide kids with an array of benefits. Not only are they linked to better relationships with peers, but they also experience tremendous success in schools.
1.Better career and educational outcomes
Children who are better at listening, sharing, following the rules, and cooperating at age five are more likely to enter college.
2.Better success in life
Seamless social skills can also help children adhere to a bright future. It has also been studied that if a child has good emotional and social skills in kindergarten, they can reap success in adulthood.
3.Stronger friendships
Children with robust social skills can get along seamlessly with peers and will have friends easily. In addition, friendships tend to provide kids with more opportunities to bond and develop conflict and problem-solving resolution.
On the other hand, what are the consequences of poor social interaction and skills? Some studies also point out that kids with poor emotional skills can have
- Legal trouble
- Dependence on public assistance
- Relationship issues
- Substance abuse issues
Remember, not having social skills can compound stress and promote various ailments like depression and multiple disorders. It is as simple as this – when kids fail to communicate effectively, it only gets worse. Meanwhile, social skills can be easily taught. Well, it is never too late to show these kids that they can get along with each other and sharpen their respective sets over a period. Yet another piece of research states that kids with new social skills experienced decreased cortisol, which is a stress hormone.
Sharing
Yet another skill that can save the day for young children is sharing. The willingness to share a toy or snack helps keep and make friends and companions. One of the studies by Psychological Sciences shows that kids as young as age three can demonstrate a desire to share. However, kids between the ages of 3-6 are often selfish when sharing is involved. Children without any social interaction might be skeptical about sharing half of their cookies. But, when it comes to kids seven to eight years old, they show more fairness and are more concerned about sharing their toys with others. Such a gesture helps them feel good about themselves.
How to Practice
You don’t need to teach your child everything about sharing. But, try teaching them sharing ethics whenever you see it. If they feel good about sharing toys or snacks with siblings, they might just love the entire feeling.
Cooperating
This simply implies working in a combination for one common goal. Children who tend to cooperate are relatively more respectful when others land their requests. In addition, this allows them to participate, contribute, and help out. Good cooperation skills are quintessential to get along amid a shared community.
How to Practice
You need to talk about teamwork and how a task gets better with everyone’s involvement. As a result, create specific opportunities for the entire family to work together.
Listening
Listening does not require a child to be quiet. It refers to absorbing what the other individual has to say. Listening is yet another component of healthy and seamless communication. After all, if you are a good listener, you can be a good educator and teacher in adult life. Absorbing the subject, taking material, and thinking about the speech becomes essential as a child advances academically. Providing a kid with opportunities to absorb can help strengthen such a skill.
How to Practice
While reading a book to your kid, halt periodically and ask them about what they perceived or understood.
Featured Image Credits: Pixabay
