Social skills are the essential skills we use in our day-to-day life to interact and communicate with others. They embrace verbal and non-verbal communication, such as speech, gesture, facial expression, and body language.
Phone etiquette:
Our children must be trained how to receive a phone call properly. Discuss certain phone etiquette for kids and how parents can explain to their children to follow few instructions. When kids converse over the phone, they usually speak as they have been taught or from what they have picked up. Considering that, children will talk to callers as they would to a friend or peer group. This is, of course, not the proper way to converse, and such behavior must not be enriched. Communicating and interpersonal skills should be developed at an early age and sharpened over the years. Give your kids a chance to practice polite phone conversation by asking their grandparents to call them. A well-spoken and well-mannered individual is an asset.
Making Eye contact:
Good eye contact is a significant part of communication. Eye contact is also a strong non-verbal communication language at any age, not just in young children. Some kids struggle to look at the person they're talking to. If your kid is shy and prefers to stare at the floor or merely won't look up when occupied in other activities, emphasize the importance of good eye contact.
Greeting acquaintances:
Teaching a child how to greet people will help in their development of social skills. The greeting sets the best tone for all social interactions. A shy or introverted child may benefit from knowing the suitable form and being able to use it with confidence. An extrovert child may need structure to be more apt rather than abrupt with greetings. The way a child presents themselves to others upon meeting them will say a lot about how well-mannered they are, and this vital skill will carry them into their adult years. If you've ever met an older child who is uncomfortable when greeting people, you will understand how important it is to instill these skills in kids at an early age.
Pardon the interruption:
Interrupting naturally happens when children can't control their urge to talk. But if it's an emergency, it's vital to help your child learn to wait. Letting others finish what they're saying or doing is part of optimistic communication and helps children get along with others. The way you manage interrupting will depend on your child's age and stage of development. For example, younger children and children with additional needs might find it hard to understand that they should say 'Excuse me' and wait for you to respond. Toddlers might be able to cope only with a quick 'Just a minute before you give them your attention. Grown-up children should be able to wait for long.
Table manners:
When it comes to teaching table manners, it's never too early to start teaching kids the basics. Every day mealtime can serve as an opportunity for them to learn how to exercise proper etiquette. Using their utensils appropriately to wait until every person has been done, tiny kids can learn how to be respectful and practice table manners. Just remember to keep your instruction casual and let them enjoy the process. Understanding what is expected at the dinner table is a constant process, and not something kids will master right away. So, be patient but consistent in your instruction, and ultimately your kids will get the hang of things.
Respecting Personal Space:
Personal Space is a significant social skill for children in primary school to learn, practice, and grow. Understanding and keeping good personal space helps our children engage more successfully with regular interactions and in personal relationships with peers and adults, as well as helping them to feel safe. In addition, everyone feels more comfortable when the person they are with would respect their personal space. While some commonly held beliefs on how much space is proper in a given situation, each need's amount of private room can differ significantly.
Texting plights:
Be aware that when kids get their first smartphones, their social skills could take a hit. "Extreme texting might be robbing our children of the opportunity to learn and practice important social communication skills," says Halifax psychologist Marc Blumberg. Texting robs kids of chances to absorb and study the facial, body, and tonal messages we give off during an in-person conversation.