When you choose The Gardner School, you aren’t just providing your preschooler with a stellar education and the opportunity to learn from highly-skilled professional teachers. You are giving your child one of the greatest gifts there is: the time and space to forge new social relationships. These relationships may develop into lifelong friendships or might only span a few years. Either way, preschool friendships are vital for children because they nurture social-emotional learning skills and growth. Here are five ways preschool friendships help your child:
1. Friendships increase feelings of happiness.
Humans are social creatures, and friendships are essential for children to develop. William Bukowski, Concordia University Professor of Psychology says, “There have been many studies that have shown that if you want to predict an individual’s well-being into adulthood, you should find out about their relationships with peers in childhood.” Numerous scientific studies echo that children who have friends in their early years tend to develop into healthier, happier adolescents and adults.
2. Friendships build confidence.
When we have a friend cheering us on, we feel empowered. The same is true for preschoolers! Knowing that a friend is nearby can give your child the confidence to try new things, share their ideas, and be their true selves in any situation.
3. Friendships teach social skills and manners.
Developing friendships in preschool helps teach children to connect with others, learn to share, and grow emotionally. While they’re playing together, children are also learning about negotiation, compassion, and respect. These are skills that will serve them well beyond preschool.
4. Friendships create strong social bonds.
When your preschooler becomes part of a friend group, these social connections increase innate feelings of belonging in your preschooler, which is shown to decrease incidents of stress, anxiety, and depression. Strong social bonds among children also help them develop higher self-esteem. You can help your child make and keep friends with these helpful tips!
5. Friendships enhance your child’s learning.
One of the best ways for your child to learn social skills is by introducing them to new friends through a vibrant school community The Gardner School considers social-emotional learning to be just as important as our strong academic standards. To learn more about how you can help your child become adept academically and socially, contact us today to discover what we can bring to your family.