Learning to make and keep friends is as important as learning their 123's
Some children find it so easy to make friends and they can walk into a room and within minutes they have a new best friend!
While that is brilliant, sadly not all kids are like that, and some struggle to find even one friend. However there are things you can do to help your child make friends and ensure they are not lonesome. All children need a friend to play with and to learn social skills so here are a few helpful tips and hopefully these will benefit your child.
Teaching your child friendship skills from a very young age is key to their development, if your child has other cousins or siblings make sure they learn about sharing and empathy. If your child is one of the first in the family you may find it difficult for your child to mix with other kids so consider joining a club for Mothers and toddlers. If you live in an estate and there are other kids in the same age group go out and get to know the kiddies in the area, let the children play together.
Encourage play dates and let their friends visit regularly to keep up the relationship and guide them in their playing. For instance younger kids get bored easily so structure a day of play by baking cookies and decorating them after, later you could do play doh and colouring. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy just quality time that they can learn how to play with others and share their toys, games and their Mammy!
Let them make their own friends and don’t force a friendship to be formed, like adults not everyone gets along and there is a huge difference between and acquaintance and a pal. Show your child how you have friends and that being king, gentle and caring is a major contributor to a lasting friendship.
Most children will have one very special friend which is great but its also good to encourage them to have a wider circle of friends that they can play with and see regularly. Over the years you will see many friends come and go as children are very changeable.
Hopefully your child will make friends easily and you can rest easy in knowing that your little one is content and happy with all their pals around.
Teaching your child friendship skills from a very young age is key to their development, if your child has other cousins or siblings make sure they learn about sharing and empathy. If your child is one of the first in the family you may find it difficult for your child to mix with other kids so consider joining a club for Mothers and toddlers. If you live in an estate and there are other kids in the same age group go out and get to know the kiddies in the area, let the children play together.
Encourage play dates and let their friends visit regularly to keep up the relationship and guide them in their playing. For instance younger kids get bored easily so structure a day of play by baking cookies and decorating them after, later you could do play doh and colouring. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy just quality time that they can learn how to play with others and share their toys, games and their Mammy!
Let them make their own friends and don’t force a friendship to be formed, like adults not everyone gets along and there is a huge difference between and acquaintance and a pal. Show your child how you have friends and that being king, gentle and caring is a major contributor to a lasting friendship.
Most children will have one very special friend which is great but its also good to encourage them to have a wider circle of friends that they can play with and see regularly. Over the years you will see many friends come and go as children are very changeable.
Hopefully your child will make friends easily and you can rest easy in knowing that your little one is content and happy with all their pals around.
Written by Emma, Irish mummy blogger and staff writer at www.familyfriendlyhq.ie
Check out her own blog at emmasmadjotters.com
