GPS for Success

Positive Social and Emotional Strategies which create healthy climate and learning in the classroom.

Recalculating

Practical Ways to Help Children Improve Social Skills

• Follow their interests. Children will enjoy others when they are doing something in which they are genuinely interested.

• Learn to ask questions.

• Practice role playing.

• Be a good role model for them.

7 Valuable Social Skills for Children

1. Sharing - This is a part of daily life. Young children are more focused on their own needs and desires than the needs and desires of others. Teach them various ways to show and extend kindness to others.

2. Active listening develops healthy communication skills.

3. Following directions - multi-step directions are challenging. Give 1 direction at a time.

4. Collaborating and Cooperating - These skills give the child a chance to express ideas and listen to the ideas of others. They develop sharing skills. There are many books available on their level which focus on collaboration and cooperation. The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli

5. Patience - delayed gratification comes into play. Good things take time. We nurture them into becoming a patient person.

6. Respecting boundaries - Teach children how to ask permission and to identify boundaries. This establishes a sense of respect between themselves and others.

7. Positivity - The easiest way to demonstrate positivity is by modeling it. The more positive you are, the more assured they will become.