Eleven ways to help your child become socially smart

Social readiness is very important to your child’s overall readiness for school. Children need to learn to get along with other children, obey rules, share, take turns, and to leave their parents during school. Some social experiences to prepare your child are:

• Set rules and give appropriate punishments when they are broken.


• Develop a schedule at home clearly defining your child’s bedtime, meal times, outside play times, etc…


• Talk to your child about how to play and talk with other children and offer lots of opportunities.


• Teach your child to take turns and share by practicing together each day.


• Teach your child to be a part of a conversation with you and others.


• Encourage your child to finish hard tasks once they have started them.


• Leave your child in the care of another person to teach him that you will always come back & build his trust and confidence


• Help your child learn empathy by teaching him to think about the feelings of others.


• Teach your child good ways to express his or her feelings.


• Tell your child that hitting, biting, and screaming are not allowed.


• Show your love for your child several times a day. Children who love themselves will love others.