My 3 year old son has recently commented on his Best Friends. Usually he names Grandpa and Mommy as his friends. But it’s not as easy as we think it is to make new friends. Here’s some great tips from our friends at Calgary’s Child Magazine.
Making friends sounds as simple as child’s play, but if you watch any young child, you’ll see how hard it really is …
Learning social skills is one of the most difficult developmental tasks a child faces and one of the most critical for future success in life. While the skills of friendship usually come naturally as children mature, parents can and should take steps to help the process along.
· Open your home to their friends and encourage your child to join a group of kids with similar interests.
· Try to leave some free time during the week so your child has the time for friendships to develop.
· Allow a reasonable amount of telephone time, as it’s often easier for kids to talk on the phone than in person.
· Help your child feel that he can fit in with his peers, that may mean occasionally giving into the designer jeans or branded sports gear.
· Positive group involvement often prevents the need for kids to get involved in a group whose interests are negative. So help your child get involved with positive groups such as sports, scouts, hobbies or church.
One friend can make a difference. If your child has no friends, seek the help from a teacher to link them up with a good playmate. One positive experience may be enough to renew your child’s confidence and make having friends as easy as child’s play.
For more informations visit www.calgaryschild.com
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