Helping Your Child Develop Socially

Social skills are defined as, the ability to communicate and interact with other without conflict or disharmony. Social skill development begins at infancy and progresses through stages as a child grows. It consists of teaching children how to interact, share and co-operate with others, how to build strong relationships that will last as well as social etiquette and good manners. The proper development of social skills will lay a firm foundation for your child's future.

Playing is the most natural way that a child educational and developmental skills grow and flourish, so interaction between parent and child play a vital part. The parent/child relationship is the most natural for developing social skills because loving, sensitive parents are emotionally connected and are best at nurturing empathy, emotional self-control and communication skills in their children. However, this is all preparation for your child's interaction with others.

Educational toys provide many ways for children to sharpen their social skills. Researchers have determined that educational toys provide ways for children to work together, share, discuss ideas about how best to solve problems and promote healthy competition as they learn to enjoy the company of one another.

So parents spend daily time with your children and help them practice positive social skills. Remember to point out both positive and negative behavior. Patiently and lovingly discouraging the negative and rewarding the positive so your child will become successful, popular, be able to resolve conflict with others, do well in school and possibly be the one that others look to for help.