Top 10 things parents can do to encourage positive social skill development in their children
By Mitch Baum `91

1. Eat dinner together whenever possible.

2. Encourage kids to use words when describing what they want (or don't want).

3. Model active listening - eye contact, nodding head, reflecting back feelings.

4. Describe desired behavior in a positively stated way (instead of "listen to me" say "when you listen, you need to have eyes on me and hands and feet still").

5. Encourage kids to have eye contact when speaking with adults or other kids.

6. Teach alternative behaviors for dealing with anger such as deep breaths, counting to 10, drawing or writing, and positive self-talk.

7. Play games which require social interaction together as a family.

8. Talk with kids about the meaning of body language. Discuss how negative body language impacts how others feel about them.

9. Come up with meaningful "kid" reasons for using social skills (i.e. "if you apologize when you have hurt someone, it is more likely they'll want to be your friend later").

10. Talk about the Golden Rule ("treat others the way you want to be treated").