For children with slow development like ADHD, Dyslexia, PDD etc. social interactions are problematic. Social skills are important to help your child succeed in all aspects of their life. As your child grows, so does their social awareness and skills. However, for a child with special needs, learning social skills and forging new friendships can be stressful and scary. As a parent, there are several ways you can help teach and encourage your child to overcome his fear and help him gain the confidence to create and maintain friendships and positive social interactions.
Your child may need a little “nudge” when it comes to making new friends. They may be scared or self-conscious, and low self-esteem can prevent them from making the first move. You can support him and lend a helping hand by creating “playdates”, or by having them participate in certain events.
Use their strengths and likes to create social activities or place him in certain environments. If they love to read, go to a children’s reading group at your local library. If art is more their style, sign them up for a kid’s art class. Being around other kids with similar interests automatically provides a subject for conversation, and a great starting point to creating positive interactions.
Teachers can also give valuable insight. Ask if there are any children in his class that they seem to get along with or connect with particularly well. Keep those suggestions in mind when setting up playdates. Create playdates around universally liked activities, such as going for a movie, attending parties, being involved in team sports, having a fun filled dance activity or cooking sessions.
The main idea behind a social group is to help provide a natural situation where your child can communicate and learn from other kid’s, while having fun and making friends.
With thanks to Tender Hearts.
Visit www.tenderhearts.ae.