Helping Your Child Get Along With Others

Learning to get along well with others is an important skill for young children to learn. Not only will it help them have an easier time in social environments like daycare or preschool, but according to studies, “popular kids are good at interpersonal skills: empathy, perspective-taking, and moral reasoning.”

Here are some ways you can help your child get along with others.

Encourage empathy in your child

Empathy is the basis for several important life skills such as forming strong relationships, conflict resolution, gratitude, and behaving ethically to others. Even very young children can learn this critical social mindset – learn how you can help foster empathy in your child.

Teach your child polite communication and active listening

Knowing how to have a conversation is an important skill that will set your child up for success in later work, school, and social situations. You can help your child learn this skill at home. Some things you can teach your child include giving the other person a chance to speak, asking questions, and offering information about themselves in the conversation. A good way to practice this is by having a pretend phone call with your child.

Have conversations about social situations with your child

Your child may not know how to ask for help with certain social situations, or they may not be able to put their question into words. You can help your child understand social situations by having conversations about what they would do in certain scenarios. For example, you can say, “When you and your little sister both want to play with the same toy, what do you think you could do so you’re both happy?” or “What would you do if you noticed a new kid in your class who’s acting shy?” Keep these conversations open-ended and help your child see what the outcomes could be.

Encourage cooperative social situations

Studies have shown that children tend to get along better when they’re working toward a common goal, whether in school or while playing. If your child has a couple of friends they enjoy playing with, host a play date in your home and offer cooperative – not competitive – games for them to play.

Teach self-control and conflict resolution

Parents of young children know how play can easily turn into conflict. You can help your child deal with these situations by encouraging them to think about how others feel and by demonstrating ways to work through negative emotions. Some examples of conflict resolution skills for young children include: Using “I feel” language, not making rude remarks when upset, taking turns when speaking, and brainstorming solutions.

By encouraging empathy and cooperation, discussing social scenarios, and demonstrating conflict resolution skills, you can help your child learn how to get along with others.