Why Are Social Skills Important for Children?
Children’s social skills impact their mental health, academic performance, and long-term relationships. Without the ability to communicate and connect, children may experience bullying, isolation, and emotional distress. Teaching social skills early helps children navigate friendships, develop confidence, and build emotional resilience.
This article outlines five proven strategies to help children improve social intelligence, engage in friendships, and develop strong interpersonal skills.
1. Model Positive Social Behaviour
Children learn social skills by observing adults. Every conversation you have—whether at a shop, with a friend, or over the phone—provides a learning opportunity.
How Can Parents Model Social Skills?
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- Use eye contact, active listening, and polite language during conversations.
- Explain your social interactions to your child. Discuss what went well and what could improve.
- Encourage your child to give feedback on how you interact with others—they’ll enjoy pointing out improvements!
After conversation, ask your child, “What do you think made that conversation friendly?”
2. Use Role-Playing to Build Confidence
Practising social scenarios in a safe environment allows children to develop confidence and adaptability.
How Does Role-Playing Help Social Development?
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- Simulates real-life interactions in a controlled setting.
- Encourages problem-solving when navigating conversations.
- Provides constructive feedback for refining social skills.
Practise introducing themselves, joining a conversation, or responding to teasing in a positive way.
3. Teach Conversation Starters
Many children struggle with initiating conversations. Providing structured prompts can help them engage more easily.
What Are Effective Conversation Starters for Kids?
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- Shared Interests → “What’s your favourite game?”
- Universal Topics → “Do you have any pets?”
- Environmental Observations → “That’s a cool backpack! Where did you get it?”
Encourage open-ended questions to keep conversations flowing.
4. Develop Emotional Regulation Skills
Children with strong emotional regulation navigate friendships better, handling disagreements and peer rejection with resilience.
How Can Parents Help Children Manage Emotions?
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- Teach emotion-labelling → “It looks like you’re frustrated. What’s making you feel that way?”
- Practise problem-solving → “How can we make this situation better?”
- Model calm responses to stressful situations.
If a child is upset about losing a game, help them express their frustration in words instead of reacting emotionally.
5. Foster Empathy in Social Situations
Empathy helps children understand others’ emotions and strengthen friendships.
How Can You Teach Empathy?
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- Encourage perspective-taking → “How do you think they felt when that happened?”
- Discuss real-life situations to identify emotions.
- Teach emotional cues like tone of voice and body language.
If another child is upset, ask, “What could you do to make them feel better?”
Supporting Children with Social Challenges
Children with anxiety, autism, ADHD, or other conditions may face additional difficulties in forming friendships. Parents can support them by:
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- Providing structured social settings to reduce anxiety.
- Adapting strategies to individual needs.
- Consulting professionals for tailored guidance.
By modelling social skills, practising interactions, and reinforcing emotional intelligence, parents can help children develop confidence, improve social intelligence, and form lasting friendships.
For additional support, contact our Client Relationships Team at 07 3823 2230.
Get Help for Your Child
If your child needs help with executive functioning consider booking a session with our child psychologists or for a kids counselling session. We also offer cognitive assessments and ADHD and ASD Assessments and therapy for children to see if there are other reasons behind their difficulties.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you and your family. Or you can book a telehealth consultation or in-person appointment if you are able to attend our clinics at Springwood or Thornlands in Qld Australia, with our psychologists.