Watching kids build their first friendships is truly heartwarming. Little ones bond over anything from trains, taking turns on a slide, their favorite snacks, or through imaginative play. Through building relationships with others, preschoolers practice social skills and experience a sense of belonging and shared joy.
As your children grow, it’s natural to want them to build close bonds, even from a very young age. Here are a few tips for helping your preschool-aged child initiate and develop healthy friendships.
1. Act out possible social situations.
Relationship skills are built through practice with siblings, cousins, neighbors and family friends as well as your child’s classmates. Additionally, your child’s interactions with you and other caregivers can help them build relational skills. Preschoolers love to play pretend, so engage your child in social practice by saying, “Let’s pretend I’m a friend at your new preschool. I’m playing with the blocks, and you want to play with them, too. What would you say to me?” You can also coordinate with your child’s preschool to let them know you’re practicing these skills too. A responsive organization will help support your efforts at home with additional opportunities at school.
2. Model appropriate social greetings and manners.
Preschoolers love to imitate others, and they keep a careful eye on how you treat those around you. You can model prosocial behavior by greeting others warmly. Even a trip to the grocery store, a restaurant, or a playground is an opportunity to show kids how to engage with other people. Kids should be able to see you asking questions, giving hugs, and waving goodbye. These small gestures can go a long way in helping your child make and keep friends.
3. Help kids to imagine what others may be thinking.
Good friends are empathetic, and compassion is a skill that even small children can practice. Books can be a great way to help build this skill. When reading a book, your little one can imagine what the characters might be feeling. If a character gets angry or sad, ask your child what the character is thinking or how the character would like to respond in that situation. When a child understands that others have a different perspective, he or she can respond with kindness and caring. Psychologists call this concept “theory of mind,” and helping your child develop it will increase his or her socio-emotional intelligence.
4. Schedule regular playdates with their peers.
Seeing friends often will naturally increase your child’s social intellect. By giving kids many opportunities to interact with others, they’ll begin to pick up on social cues more readily. Playdates can happen at a residence, the playground, a zoo or aquarium, or even a local park. Each setting provides a new place for children to explore with their peers, learning more about themselves and their friends in the process.
5. Choose a preschool that prioritizes building social skills.
The Gardner School is a healthy place for kids to meet same-age peers and develop essential social and teamwork skills. Through family-style meals and plenty of learning-based playtime, The Gardner School students build relationships and practice kindness to others. Our degreed and highly qualified teachers understand child development and use a balanced strategy for helping kids reach intellectual, physical, and social milestones. Schedule a tour to visit us today!