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 CDL's Social Skills And Peer Relationship PageAn important factor in child development is how children get along with others. In fact, good social skills are very important for life success. Social skills include what to say to others, how to make and keep friends, how to work well with others, how to make good choices and how to act in different social situations. How children and adolescents function socially can impact their academic performance, behavior, interpersonal relationships and participation in extracurricular activities. Most children acquire positive social skills in their day-to-day interactions with others. Adults should reinforce this incidental learning. When children do not spontaneously acquire good social skills, however, intervention is important. Children who have social skills deficits often experience anxiety and depression, and/or display aggressive behaviors. They are often rejected by their peers. Their academic performance may suffer as an indirect result of poor peer relationships. Before appropriate social skills interventions can be conducted, it is necessary to determine the exact skills children do and do not possess so that their specific deficits can be targeted and interventions that capitalize on their strengths can be implemented. Would you like to know more about Social Skills? |
Edward M. Hallowell
Stanley I. Greenspan
Lynn Clark