Social relationships and skills play a large part in how well and how much an individual learns. During a child’s adolescent years, changes in friendships can determine if they will be successful academically or not in the future. It is important be aware of your child’s social skills and take necessary measures, such as group, to help your child thrive in their community.
Social Skills
Social skills are how we interact with others in what we say and do. These skills are also how we can create lasting friendships. Social skills are used when collaborating with others; act in various social situations and knowing what makes good choices. If your child has strong social skills, then those skills can help them to become more confident and happier. Also, your child will be more socially fluent and able to interact with others. If your child lacks these acquired social skills, it could cause anxiety, depression or aggressive behaviors, and peer rejection. The five most recognized social skills are; basic communication, empathy and rapport, interpersonal, problem-solving and accountability. Listed below are examples of each social skill.
Basic Communication
- The ability to listen and follow directions
- Body Language and Behaviors – eye contact, physical stillness, etc.
Empathy and Rapport
- The ability to connect with others
- Accepting differences and cooperating
Interpersonal
- The ability to share, join in activities, and wait for their turn
- Showing resilience; continue to try and not give up with ease
Problem-Solving
- The ability to ask for help and accepting consequences
- Approaching problems, rather than avoiding them
Accountability
- The ability to accept the blame for a problem they may have caused
- Accepting constructive feedback
Most children acquire social skills in their everyday lives. However, many kids today show delayed social awareness which could be due to technological changes. If your child is not acquiring social skills in their everyday life, it is important to take necessary actions and find a solution. Social skills groups are a great tool to help if your child is struggling with these skills.
What is a social skills group?
A social skills group guides kids through activities or exercises to help them learn the necessary skills to deal with any type of social challenge they may be facing currently or in the future. Typically, groups meet weekly to give kids a chance to practice social skills and receive appropriate feedback on how well they are doing.
The benefits of social skills groups are they allow kids the opportunity to learn these important skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Learning these skills can be a fun and exciting experience for kids that have a deficient in one or more of these areas.
- Being able to greet others
- Starting conversations
- Being able to respond to others appropriately
- Being able to maintain conversations
- Sharing and taking turns
- Assertiveness
- Problem-solving and conflict management/resolution
- Accepting accountability
Parents can find various types of social skills groups in their local area that can meet the needs of their child. Here at Dandelion Family Counseling, we offer STEAM, yoga, and play-based groups to ensure each child is engaging in an activity of their interest. Groups like these integrate activities that kids find enjoyable while making the process of learning social skills fun, exciting, and a place where they can be themselves while meeting others just like them.
Want to learn more? Check out our Group Therapy services tab!