Back to School: Ways To Help Your Child Thrive Socially

Not every child is an inherent social butterfly—nor is social development one-size-fits-all. In places of education, having social-related jitters is incredibly common, as children encounter a variety of faces in the classroom, in the hallways, and around the school’s campus.

Fortunately, parents can help their budding children comfortably succeed in school settings and social situations at any age. As the kids go back to school, consider the following ways to help your child thrive socially throughout the year.

Encourage and Redirect Them After Setbacks

Good social skills are instrumental for success in school and in relationships. Yet, certain social skills are challenging and need to be learned and practiced over time to become more refined. For this reason, staying positive and helping them recover after setbacks is key.

Don’t place blame on their character or current abilities. Rather, keep an eye out for teachable moments or redirections. Some common childhood habits—or self-soothing strategies—like thumb sucking can lead to bullying and other social issues as they age. Properly addressing detrimental behavior patterns can help them grow and move forward in a beneficial direction.

Strengthen Their Capacity for Compassion

Parents must take on the responsibility to nurture their child’s personal health and well-being, including their social wellness and emotional health. An integral part of this process involves building up their ability to be compassionate. Younger children are still developmentally learning perspective-taking skills.

Helping them strengthen their understanding of inclusion and empathy is essential not only for making friends and interacting with peers now but also for countless experiences in the future. Talk with your child about the importance of celebrating differences, actively listening to others, expressing kindness, and being vulnerable.

Demonstrate or Showcase Positive Social Skills

Knowledge is the best power for progressing social skills. Therefore, sharing knowledge is another of the leading ways to help your child thrive socially. Remember, you are the teacher outside of the classroom. Share your perspective and model it through personal demonstration or visual aids. Parents can help their children practice certain social skills through role-playing or provide examples of media that display positive interactions.

Despite the ongoing challenges and changes they face in the world, children are some of the most resilient and courageous among us. Strive to be a resource for your child to help them create a steady social foundation for this school year and beyond. With a little support—and a nudge in the right direction—they can build a lifetime of fulfilling experiences with others.