As a parent, it would be awesome if kids came out thoroughly trained and ready for school. Unfortunately, unless you adopt a five-year-old, that falls on parents, and it begins at an early age. Skylar Kellisa has been working on teaching social skills to her daughter, Carter. The lessons are adorable.
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At first, Carter didn’t understand that Mommy was pretending to be a stranger. The tot insisted that she call her “Mommy,” not “Skylar.” Once that was straightened out, they were on a roll. Carter got the handshake part down pretty quickly.
Carter wanted to jump ahead to the handshake, but she got it right after a few tries. Adding in a friendly wave three inches in front of Skylar’s nose was comical. That makes sense since waving is one of the first things our children learn as a greeting. Exchanging pleasantries came next.
Asking a child, “How are you?” can get surprise answers, but Carter stayed with the script. Carter scooted away for a second, then returned for another practice round. She did really well, although she did miss a few lines. But that handshake is spot on. After greetings and nice to meet yous were exchanged, Carter said “Bye” with a wave to Skylar’s face. As she scampered away, Skylar said, “See ya later.”
Teaching Social Skills Is An Important Part Of Parenting
Social skills are basic skills that will carry our children through their lives. While we also teach things like caution and stranger danger, kids must know how to meet new people. Teaching social skills to our children is one of the most important things a parent can do.
We teach them how to eat with silverware and drink from cups without spilling. We teach them how to dress and tie their shoes. At a young age, children are like sponges. They can learn a lot in a short period. It is essential not to overload them. It is also important to practice each social skill as you teach them and to return to those lessons to refresh your child’s skills.
One middle schooler in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is using her mastery of social skills to run a profitable lemonade stand to help her mom pay for school supplies and other necessities. Her siblings are helping, and they all get to spend the profits to help their mom.
When teaching social skills to a toddler, do it in small bites. If your child remains engaged, they will learn quicker and the lesson will “stick” longer. If your toddler is disinterested, stop and allow them some free play time. Kids love to learn, but they also have the attention span of a gnat some days.
Good luck!
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