By admin 
In the modern world, cognitive skills tend to be valued as if they were the only ones people need to succeed in society. However, it is also very important to develop social skills in children, as this will make a difference in many ways in adulthood.
Just as it is possible to stimulate the development of cognitive skills, social skills can also be worked on to achieve practical results that are perceived in the behavior of children. For example, healthier interaction with the family.
We’ve written this post with some tips on how to stimulate social skills in children. If you want to get this task done with ease, just keep reading. Let’s go!
Why work on certain skills in childhood?
Social skills define an individual’s ability to interact healthily with others. It is worth noting that they can — and should — be stimulated along with cognitive skills for a person’s complete development in childhood and to prepare them for the future.
Among the problems that hinder interactions in society, we can divide them into two categories: internalizing (composed of disorders such as depression, social anxiety and sadness); and externalizing (composed of evident problems in relationships between people, such as physical or verbal aggression, lack of respect and irritability).
Social skills must be worked on to alleviate these difficulties. These problems are generally common in young people and adolescents, and affect the rest of people’s lives. Therefore, it is essential to start developing social skills from childhood.
So, what are these skills?
Now, we will look at some important social skills and why they should be developed.
Cooperation
Like competitiveness, cooperation is a key word these days. After all, you need to know how to deal with other people, seek help to solve problems together, and count on their support at important times. In professional life, for example, a person’s connections greatly influence their chances of success.
Ability to divide
Social relationships involve sharing and mutual aid. Therefore, people need to learn from an early age to share things, whether to help others in times of extreme need or simply out of kindness. This is a highly regarded skill that is truly valued in society.
Communication
Living in society requires the ability to convey ideas, to make oneself understood and to interact through dialogue. Communication is essential for individuals to achieve common goals. Therefore, it is one of the pillars of teamwork.
A child who does not know how to communicate loses the opportunity to express good ideas, to influence others in some way, as well as to ask for help when needed.
Empathy
This is another very important characteristic, at any historical moment, even. The ability to look at others and deeply empathize with their pain and difficulties is admirable. This is because it forces people to shift their focus away from themselves and consider the other individual as important as well.
Ability to show gratitude
Saying “thank you” is valuable. Showing gratitude creates healthy and cordial relationships, based on the fact that an individual recognizes the effort of another to benefit him or her and thanks them for it. Children need to be taught emphatically the importance of having this skill to live well in society.
Respect
Respecting others is a foundation of interpersonal relationships, and is the main driver of other attitudes already mentioned, such as empathy. It is basically recognizing the value of the other person as a human being who is just as important as you, and their peculiarities and mannerisms as something particular and worthy of understanding.
Children need to understand that each person has their own personal characteristics and should not be mistreated because of this. This way, you can ensure that your child stays away from practices such as bullying.
How to develop social skills in children?
The skills mentioned above can be improved and developed in humans through appropriate activities and exercises. Follow the tips below to understand better.
1. Take time
First of all, you need to set aside more time for your child, specifically to monitor this issue of social skills. Talk to him about it, teach him good practices whenever possible. It all starts with open dialogue.
This means that you must also listen to your child. It is essential that this exchange takes place so that both parties feel free to speak.
2. Value efforts
Recognize your child’s work when they strive to improve, that is, always praise their good actions. It is important for the child to see that they are progressing and that small actions count towards being rewarded. This way, you will be able to encourage their engagement and interest in these attitudes.
3. Give feedback
This is a fuller version of the previous tip. Feedback is how you communicate to your children how they’re doing, not only when things are right but especially when things are wrong, which you should correct them for.
You should also monitor their activities and inform them how much time is spent on this. In this manner, they will be aware of the fact that you may have presented to them in your teachings.
4. Teach them to put themselves in other people’s shoes
To develop respect and empathy, teach your child to put themselves in other people’s shoes and try to understand their difficulties. This can even be done in practice, with imitation games, for example, so that they understand the magnitude of this need. This tip is also useful for developing the ability to share.
5. Encourage self-criticism
Get children to verbally acknowledge their mistakes and admit what they did. The goal is for them to develop a sense of self-criticism, self-knowledge, and recognition of their own mistakes. So, talk to them politely and teach them why certain actions are wrong and harmful to life in society.
6. Encourage social interaction
This is one of the most important tips. Get your child to participate in interactive groups where they can work as a team and explore cooperation and communication. After all, the best way to cultivate these skills is to try to work on them in practice.
Follow his experiences in these groups and gradually teach him, through dialogue, good practices to improve social relations when he is part of a group of people.
7. Encourage the good use of technology and games
Technology can be a great ally in developing social skills in children. Learning activities such as programming helps develop a sense of cooperation and communication from an early age, as it requires students to constantly seek help from others to solve problems.
The internet itself can be a great tool for communication when used well. It allows your child to interact with other people, get to know them better and understand them to build empathy.
Games also play a fundamental role in this and can bring benefits for the future. Video games, for example, are capable of stimulating skills that the market demands , such as communication and cooperation, with teamwork.
Ultimately, there are a number of crucial skills for life in society that need to be cultivated so that children are better prepared for adulthood. In this article, we will list the most relevant ones. With patience and good will, you will help your child follow a path to success.