How to Teach My 6 Year Old How to Make Friends

Give children many opportunities to practice social skills.

Making friends can be a daunting task for a child. Provide many opportunities for your child to socialize in different settings. Give him valuable tools to help build friendships throughout the rest of his life by teaching him compassion and empathy. Be a positive role model by exposing your child to a variety of social situations and by teaching him to exhibit qualities such as honesty and sincerity. Listen to your child and provide support as needed.

Instructions

1. Provide opportunities for socializing by encouraging your child to join after-school clubs, sports or activities. Invite peers over for play dates. Provide unstructured time for kids to practice a whole range of skills needed to keep playing and have fun. Expose your child to a variety of social situations, including visiting with neighbors, communicating with the mail carrier, or chatting with a store clerk.

2. Support any friendships your child already has by listening to the day's events and interactions or problems. Provide advice as needed. Nurture friendships by getting to know the child and his parents.

3. Model appropriate behavior on a regular basis. Children learn by the examples their parents set, so make sure your child is exposed to the kinds of behaviors that are conducive to making and keeping friends. Have a sense of humor, act kindly, help others in need, recognize personal strengths and weaknesses, express empathy for others and teach your child to accept things as they are instead of complaining.

4. Teach manners. Children who are friendly and polite are usually well-liked by both adults and kids. Teach your child to use eye contact, say "please" and "thank you," always keep her word, participate in school, be honest, give compliments and smile at others.

5. Nurture the common interests shared by your child's peers. Find out who shares the same hobbies or interests as your child and invite her to play or sign up your child for the same class. Ask your child's teacher which students share interests with your son or daughter. When children are playing, give them a specific task, such as "Build a city from blocks."

References

• Education.com: Nobody Likes Me; Helping Children Make Friends; Lisa M. Cope
• She Knows Parenting; Developing Social Skills; Tiernan McKay; 2010

Resources

• Web MD