Each and every day, we use social skills to connect with people in the world around us. Whether that be a quick “hello!”, a friendly nod and smile or a lengthy catch up with an old friend we see on the street; we use our social judgement to adapt to each situation. However, some people don’t know how to use social skills and as a result, have difficulties with social interactions.
At Alex V. Speech Pathology, we not only help children with speech and language disorders, but also children who need assistance with their social skills. This is particularly fundamental, especially in their early years of life where the social skills they learn will shape part of their personality. As experts on children’s social development, we’re listing below why early social skills are so important.
What are the Fundamental Early Social Skills?
While children can develop at different rates, some children are rapid developers and others taking a little longer to develop, there are some fundamental social skills that children should have developed before they begin their schooling years. These include:
- Expressing emotions
- Making eye contact
- Active listening
- Taking turns in group play
- Care and compassion
If you notice your child is struggling to pick up these social skills, it is recommended that you book them in for a consultation with Alex V. Speech Pathology, where our experienced team of Speech Pathologists can help your child with their social development. Whether your child needs extended treatment or just a little bit of assistance, the benefits of social skills therapy are endless.
The Importance of Developing Early Social Skills
Being able to interact appropriately in social settings is something that a lot of us probably take for granted. Someone who doesn’t know how to act in certain social setting may get themselves into awkward situations, have trouble expressing themselves and ultimately struggle to make friends. Therefore, having a good set of social skills allows your child to develop meaningful relationships in the early years of their schooling, where many lifelong friendships are made. Knowing correct social etiquette will also ensure your child stays out of trouble at school and treats other children and teachers with respect.
Read our previous blog to find out how your child’s teacher might be the best source of information on language therapy.
How Can you Help as a Parent?
As a parent, you might be wondering how you can help your child build these fundamental social skills in their early years. One of the best ways to do so is to involve them in your conversations and set a good example when communicating. This involves using hand gestures, showing them what different emotions look like, teaching them manners and making eye contact with them when you speak. Another good idea is to bring them around other children as early as possible and introducing them to playgroup or nursery programs where they can learn through play. Programs like these are great because they will also allow you to establish early on if they have any social skills difficulties.
The Alex V. Speech Pathology Experience
At Alex V. Speech Pathology, we understand that a clinical environment can be intimidating for children, especially if they haven’t had good previous experiences attending appointments. Therefore, we’ve designed our clinic to be as child friendly as possible with lots of games, colourful paintings and sessions tailored to your child’s interests and milestones. This way, they are able to feel at ease and genuinely enjoy coming to social skills sessions as often, they won’t even notice they’re receiving treatment!
If you think your child would benefit from social skills therapy, we encourage you to contact Alex V. Speech Pathology on (07) 3217 7037.