Social Skills

Social skills are essential for kids to learn so they are able to adapt to different situations, develop positive relationships with others, and manage conflict.

Steps to help with learning socially skilled behaviours:

• Help them interpret the behaviour of others by linking thoughts and feelings: “I’ll bet he was feeling/thinking _______ when he did that”
• Give labelled praise to your child for appropriate social skills: “What a friendly way to say hello!” “I am so proud of how you well you played and shared today”
• Teach conflict resolution skills: “What might be a way to get them to want to share with you?

STOP reacting and notice how you are feeling. Take a few deep breaths.

THINK What is the problem? What are some options? What will happen if you act on them?

DO what will work best

• Discuss social situations on the television, in books, and in real life: “What do you think (character) was feeling when that happened? How can you tell?”

Books

Sharing Books for Social & Emotional Understanding- By Margaret Goldthorpe & Perdy Buchanan-Barrow

The New Social Story Book- By Carol Gray