How to Train Your Child for Socialization?

Some children find it harder to socialize and develop communication skills. Some might retreat into isolation after sincerely attempting to make friends and win favor of their peers. Sometimes their hesitation to communicate or natural shyness also leads them to be bullied or suffer snubs from their age fellows. They even pull back from playing on commercial playground equipment after they have been stopped or bullied at the school playground equipment. The safety and comfort of home and family members become their only solace apart from their own company.

Seeing your child being rejected and isolated in life is amongst the worst things for a parent. However sometimes parents fail to realize that it is a similar problem to children’s other academic or health problems and need to be addresses in the same way. They need to formulate a plan to approach such issues. The good news is that it can be solved. Here are some guidelines for you to follow if your child is behaving anti-socially or you feel that he is not handling his peers as well as other kids of his age.

Social Indicators

The milestones are different for different ages. Toddlers or very young kids are perfectly happy to play alone. They talk to themselves and once in a while speak up to their parents. For children of that age it is fine to push away another child or a person. It is not a sign of being unable to socialize.

Slightly older children however prefer the company of another child. They like to share and take turns in playing. This is the tricky stage where parents need to be considerate. Having a fight however is a good thing. Do not mistake your child’s ability to keep his friends happy with his lack of keeping friends at all. Eventually, by the time the child enters kindergarten, he is experienced and skilled enough to be friends with a whole group of other kids and enjoy his experiences with others. The important point here is to judge your child’s social abilities according to his age. The easiest way to do so is to look at other children his age and talk to parents whose children have passed the age of your child.

Program Your Little One Accordingly

The next step is to train your child slowly and comfortably to get him out of his fears of socialization. Remember to keep an eye out because if your little one is facing difficulty in making friends, he might also find it hard to approach parents himself as well. Find other kids of his age in the neighborhood and invite them over for a small cake party. It is better to bring up girls and boys both because at this age the gender is not an issue and it is always better to provide your child with an environment of variety in activities and interests to allow him more room to explore and react. The important point is that this visit should remain and end on a happy note. That is necessary to make your child look forward to more of such encounters with friends.

When the child becomes comfortable with friends visiting then you should allow him to visit his friends’ houses instead. That will gradually alleviate his fears and make him more confident in surroundings out of home. Make sure that the child knows the exact time when he would be picked up by parents and also give him the option of calling back early if he wishes so. The idea is to gradually expose your child to the social life and choose friends for him initially if he seems to be at a loss of making that happen himself.