How do you develop social skills in preschool?

Developing social skills is an important aspect of our lives, and the sooner we start, the better. Good social skills help us communicate effectively, share a good relationship or bond, better cooperate, active listening, and many more. 

It is recommended that children learn to socialise in their preschool years, and it is not important whether it is their preschool or home that help them with those skills. Do you want your children to develop social skills too? Here are some of the ways to build social skills in children:

1. Expressing emotions

Expressing emotions the right way needs direction, and many grown-ups even fail to do it the right way. While kids learn to express themselves by copying how their parents or caregivers do, it is important to have a few activities boost their emotional expression. 

Imaginative plays or modelling different emotions can help preschoolers learn emotions and expressions. Singing and dancing can contribute to this development as well. There are many books that help a child learn the appropriate expression of their emotions. 

2. Proper communications

Without proper communication, children will have started storing away their feelings and emotions, and they will be overwhelmed by it. As they grow with age, their communication level must change. Making eye contact while speaking is one of the ways to develop proper communication. 

However, the best strategy to help your children develop communication skills is to show them yours. Listen to what they are saying, note their gestures, or even ask questions that motivate them to communicate. 

3. Following rules or guidelines

Once the babies start to walk or talk, they already want to go on a great exploration. They are curious and want to see what is happening everywhere. And this is where you can teach them how to follow the rules and guidelines. You can give them the practice to follow two-step directions or use fun songs that come with instructions. You can also do it yourself and model how to follow the guidelines. 

4. Respecting their personal space

Toddlers always want to be with someone, if not with many people. And they don’t have the idea of personal space yet. But eventually, they will need it to some extent but will fail to express it. Learning the parts of the body and nonverbals contribute highly to the learning of personal space. You can also help your toddler practise boundary lines or have stage conversations to promote boundaries. 

5. Conflict Resolution

As your child starts to go to school, he needs to learn how to resolve conflicts without letting them escalate. And another important aspect is to resolve the issues as much healthily as possible for minimum damage in the relationships or bonds. 

You can role-play scenarios or show them what are conflicts either by visuals in books or movies. But the most important part here is to be played by the parent, where they can model empathy and say sorry. 

Conclusion

While it is possible to teach your kids to develop social skills, putting them in a preschool in Pinner will help them develop skills in a larger setting with other students.