Carl Pickhardt, a psychologist and author of 15 parenting books, says, “A child who lacks confidence will be reluctant to try new or challenging things because he’s scared of failing or disappointing others”.
Children face many challenges since the day they are introduced into the modern real world. But as they go through life, developing social skills and interacting with the world around them will always be a critical part of their success, happiness and their ability to become a productive part of a modern society. Some kids are naturally more socially adept than others. Nevertheless, socialising is an art one is mastering every single day of growing up. Teaching your children pick up social skills and communicate well is a big task for parents.
So to that end, here are a few Excelsior tips parents can follow to build confidence and social skills in your young ones.
Encourage Eye-Contact
When talking to somebody, encourage your children to look into their eyes and speak with confidence. Though nervousness is expected, the practice will enable effective communication skills and build confidence eventually. Younger ones may need practice every day to master this art. Don’t hesitate to guide your child in the meaning of various emotions and help them understand what they are.
Enable Communication
Whether it is verbal or non-verbal, children need to learn to express, interact, and respond to social stimuli. Encourage this by helping your child learn appropriate greetings and responses. Let them know that they are free to talk, ask, question, and communicate their needs, desires, beliefs and ideas. As parents and grandparents, talk to them every day and make generous use of words like ‘please,’ ‘let’s,’ ‘thank you,’ ‘common,’ etc.
Provide Opportunities
Give your children good company, exposure, and chances to interact with different types of people. Kids with social skill deficits often have trouble reading expressions and interacting socially. So activities that get them more comfortable with these situations are a great idea. Playschools, hobby classes, playgrounds, sports activities, etc., will give them a chance to socialise. When kids mingle with other kids or elders, they develop a range of interpersonal skills that become the foundation of their personality.
A child who can communicate and express fearlessly is armed to face the challenges when he or she grows up to tackle complex situations. Let your children maintain good communication channels, and pick up skills like negotiation, conflict resolution and non-verbal communication. Confidence and self-esteem are some of the greatest developments parents can enable in their children. However, discouragement, fear and doubt hinder such development. So as a parent, ensure that you encourage and support your children, and watch them flourish into social adepts!
