Importance of Social Skills

In order to build gratifying human relationships, it is vital that children learn and have the opportunity to practice the social skills considered appropriate by society. It is important to teach children to conduct themselves in ways that allow them to develop relationships with other people. Some find this more difficult than others, because of learning or other cognitive challenges, visual or hearing impairments, or a physical disability that limits their chances to socialize.

Acquiring socialization skills does not happen overnight. These skills are developed through instruction, practice and reinforcement. Some of the most important aspects of socializing that individuals may initially have difficulty grasping include turn-taking during conversations, maintaining eye contact, being polite, maintaining attention, repairing misunderstandings, finding a topic that is of mutual interest, and distinguishing social cues (both verbal and nonverbal). These subtleties, however, are not impossible for individuals to learn.

As most children grow older, they interact more and more with people in situations where direct supervision by parents is not possible. Drawing from what they have learned at home and school about socializing, children make friends within their peer group and soon learn more about socializing, hopefully refining their social skills as they grow and mature. These friendships are important for all children to develop, not only because contact, understanding, and sharing with others are basic human needs. Friends also serve central functions for children that parents do not, and they play a crucial role in shaping children’s social skills and their sense of identity.

Unfortunately, many children are socially isolated. They may have great difficulty building a network of friends and acquaintances with whom to share their feelings, opinions, ideas, and selves. A number of factors may contribute to their becoming isolated.

It is important to lay the foundations of socializing by teaching the skills at home, school, and/or a social skills program. Utilizing discussions and practicing problem solving skills with your child can increase their social abilities. Often these skills require additional small group instruction in a safe environment, led by trained professionals.  Through the use of modeling, role-play, reinforcement and other specially designed techniques a child can learn to make and keep friends, deal with bullies, manage anger, and lead a satisfying life. A close relationship amongst parents, school professionals, and social skills program coordinators is of key importance to ensure generalization of the skills described above, thus ensuring the best life for your child.