Help Your Child Become a Social Butterfly

Some children are shy, it’s not uncommon and it could be caused by genetics. Shyness can be displayed in many ways; the child may cling on to their parent, refuse to go and play with others and seems to prefer to spend time alone at parties. Shyness can often follow us into later life and it’s something that can be difficult to overcome, but there are things you can do to help your child become more comfortable in social situations.

Sensitive Encouragement

It’s important to show your child that you understand how they feel while still encouraging them to put themselves out there. Shielding the child from social situations will only deepen the issue but throwing the child into the deep end can also have detrimental effects and undermine their confidence. You need to find a balance, the middle road that is understanding yet remain focused on gradually helping your child to interact with other children.

Tips on Helping Your Child to Socialize

●     Involve your child in the family activities in the home. Ask them to help you set the table, sort the washing and encourage them to be helpful. The children see that they are involved in a social environment and it helps them to develop social skills.

●     Show affection and encourage other family members to be affectionate. Always encourage communication with your child and the other people in your family, striking up regular conversations with everyone at the same time. Having dinner at a table is a great way of encouraging conversations.

●     Teach by example, be polite and respectful to others whether they are in your presence or not. Show your child how to interact in public by striking up conversations in the playground, nursery group and in shops.

●     Show your child when you’re happy with their interaction skills. When you notice your child sharing something or having a conversation let your child know later that you are proud of them, but don’t make a big fuss!

Encourage Positive Play

Toddlers aren’t very good at sharing; it’s a skill they pick up in time. However, they can still enjoy spending time together and playing. Here are a few tips on how to encourage friendship and respect interactions:

●     Ask your child to sort out some toys to play with before a friend arrives; they don’t need to share everything.

●     Join in with the play, encouraging each child to pass around a toy. Say things such as ‘Wow, this teddy feels soft, do you think this feels soft?’ and then pass it to each children.

●     Provide the children with things they can share, such as a plate of fruit pieces or some new play dough.

Day nurseries can be great fun for children and can be a valuable tool even for parents who don’t work full time. Enrolling your child at one of the popular Day Nurseries East London can be an excellent way of encouraging socialization and helping your child make new friends. They will be learning in a fun and safe environment that helps support child development.

The author spent ten years working as a child-minder and now she spends her time managing a successful website and blog. She has also written many articles for popular parenting websites and enjoys contributing to several printed publications. The author can also be found on many parenting forums sharing tips and advice on a daily basis.