Instilling Social Skills In A Preschooler

Interacting with peers may offer preschoolers an opportunity to socialize. But socialization; the process by which children learn social norms and learn how to get along with others, is best facilitated by parents and teachers. Perceptive and well-trained preschool staff can go a long way in instilling in preschoolers, empathy, communication skills and the ability to modulate one’s emotions. Certain NYC preschools, such as Montclare Children’s School, are known to impart key social skills to children in a joyful and nurturing environment.

There are several things that parents and preschool teachers can do to help a child develop qualities such as being considerate of others and cooperating with peers. Modeling the kind of behavior and mannerisms you’d like your child or student to adopt is one of the most significant steps you can take in the journey of encouraging a child to be an amiable, positive individual. Certain other measures that you can take to help your child learn essential social skills are listed below.

Ways to teach a child important social skills

• ·         Help your child become aware of emotions

Understanding the emotions of others and oneself is the first step towards becoming a sociable individual. You can help your child become aware of emotions and their impact by frequently verbalizing how you and the child may feel in different situations.

The ability to understand that our emotions are different from our actions and that everyone experiences anger or sadness can be useful topics to explore with your child or student.

• ·         Encourage pretend play

Children who engage in pretend play with peers and adults are known to have fewer squabbles. Pretend play fosters the ability to relate to another person’s mental state. This understanding, also referred to as ‘theory of mind’, is imperative to being able to relate to others.

• ·         Provide your child with a positive, loving environment

Warm, loving relationships promote a child’s social and emotional development. Secure attachments with parents causes a child to be more empathetic than one who is not given regular, loving attention. Your interactions with your child can also bolster other social skills such as responding to non-verbal cues and picking up on the emotional state of another person.

Learning key social skills not only sets the ground for a life-long journey of joyful and positive interactions with others but also develops in children the ability to manage their behavior and emotions.

Several NYC preschools provide an environment conducive to the all-round development of a child. A preschool is the first foray of a child into a structured, social setting. You should ensure that you select the right preschool for your child so that they can blossom into compassionate and good-natured individuals.