Ways to develop social skills in children

Social situations are significant in any human being's life. But they vary based on the situations surrounding each person. In a school environment, it is absolutely necessary to focus and work on students' social skills. Teachers play a major role in having students practice their social skills and mannerisms, for the greater good and benefits of the individual and the society. Here are few tips to help children rank up their social skills.. Step of communication Without speaking, listening and expressing yourself, there is no communication that is complete. Communication skill is the most basic qualification required to get into a social situation, of any kind. Help students understand that better communication would garner better relationships with people. Great social skills cannot be acquired instantly. It takes time, but is an important skill that students have to practice. It just can't be ignored. Making time to meet people Yes, this is the central part of being social. Encourage students to go out and meet people when it is required. Let not boredom or studious behaviour bog them down. Motivate them to meet people and make friends. Their level of confidence would increase if they reach out to people when there are different situational needs. Remembering faces and names Children tend to remember the face and name of a person by associating them with things or with immediate situations. Help them create a unique image for the ones whom them bump into quite often. Teach them to listen when they are introduced to someone new. Place, date, time and occasion can be the best motivators to remember people. Play the face-name game once in a while in the classroom. Personality study Help students to observe the overall personality of a person. Observation, however, should not be solely based on just one aspect of a person. Learning about another person's beliefs, interests and habits would also help learners remember the person better. In addition, teach students to observe anyone's basic body language. Handling situations There are different types of social situations and there are different types of people around. Howbeit, there are elements to identify an event with respect to its surroundings and intensity. Students must be able to identify and handle people by the mode of conversations and nature of events. Having a balanced attitude about various social situations would help. Controlling the levels of anxiety in each situation may come in handy. Impression matters Teaching students to aim to create an overall good impression on other people may help. Nevertheless, it is not always about pleasing people around, but it is about how you carry yourself in each social situation that matters much. Nurture their ability to initiate a conversation by listening, thinking carefully, and by giving space to different perspectives in a conversation. Building Relationship Emphasise on building relationships from the very beginning. Individuals across the world long to be identified well. Be it friends, relatives, family or even peers. Developing social skills would make a person little more interested in the inter-personal relationships. In the long run, students get benefited in the areas of career, healthier relationships with human beings around, future endeavours, and a better outlook on life. Source: CareerIndia