7 Important Social Skills For Children

Illustration of social skills in children (iStockphoto)

YOGYAKARTA – A study shows that children who have social skills are far less stressed when they are at school. Social skills, may not immediately see the benefits. But isn't every human being a social being who needs to learn from an early age how to be social?

As reported by Verywell Family, Thursday, June 23, some social skills are quite complicated because they relate to the importance of being assertive when friends are bullied or say they don't agree on certain conditions. To help hone children's social skills, parents can teach the following things.

1. Sharing

Children's willingness to share food and drink is important in helping them make friends. According to a study published in Psychological Science, children as young as two may show a desire to share with others. But children ages 3 and 6 are often selfish when it comes to sharing. They may be reluctant to share a third of the cake with their peers. It may not be easy to teach children to share, but it is not impossible. Parents can set an example or give praise when they are open to sharing.

2. Cooperating

Working together means working together to achieve a common goal. Cooperative skills in children can be honed when they are successful in getting along in the community. For example in a game, they and their peers need to be equally involved in building a tower.

Illustration of social skills in children (Unsplash/Fabian Centeno)

In cooperating and collaborating, some children may take leadership positions. While others feel more comfortable following instructions. Whatever the outcome of their collaborative work, it helps children learn about themselves and recognize their role in the group.

3. Listening

Listening is not just about being silent, but actually absorbing the information being conveyed. By listening, children will also know how to communicate in a healthy way. Learning to listen can also be followed by several ways of absorbing information, for example by taking notes. Most importantly, listening can also develop empathy.

4. Following directions

Children who cannot follow directions, may get consequences that are not easy for them to comply with. For example, if they don't do their schoolwork, they will get punished. So that children can follow directions well, parents need to provide instructions. They need to be accompanied because they do not fully understand how to behave about cause and effect.

5. Respecting personal space

Some children get along very easily with their peers. They can even 'violate' their friends' personal space, making them uncomfortable. Therefore, it is important to teach children how to respect other people's personal space. Parents can make simple rules at home, for example knocking on the door before entering the parent's room.

6. Making eye contact

In addition to being polite in language, eye contact is also an important part of communication. Some children struggle to see the person they are talking to. Sometimes, they wave the 'resistance' flag by avoiding eye contact. It could be due to embarrassment or preferring to stare at the floor.

If your child struggles to communicate with eye contact, support them. Gently remind him that he needs to make eye contact when communicating.

7. Using manners

Like the words 'ask for help' and 'thank you', manners help children to gain respect and be able to respect others in this way. Of course teaching manners is not something easy. But parents need to be reminded, where to cover your mouth when you burp, or stay away when you fart.

Those are the skills that support children socially. Parents can teach it according to age and be taught continuously to get used to it in everyday life.