| When your child frowns and moans, "Nobody likes | | | | Your child will enjoy helping her friend feel good about |
| me," Do you suffer too? Would you like 50 parenting | | | | herself. The other child will appreciate being her friend. |
| tips for helping your child make friends? Let's start with | | | | Parenting Tips for Teaching Social Skills: |
| 3 social skill tips you can teach your child today. | | | | Look for ways to praise your child. Praise your child |
| "The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling | | | | with words like, "You cleaned up your toys and |
| of being unloved." - Mother Teresa. | | | | organized them so well. |
| You can help your child "belong." Just take a little time | | | | I like how much effort you put into your homework. No |
| and teach him how to make friends with the following | | | | wonder you're getting good grades. |
| social skills. He'll be smiling in no time. | | | | You pleased me, when you took the time to read to |
| First Parenting Tip for Children: | | | | your little brother." |
| Tell him, "See things from your friend's point of view." | | | | Notice how your sincere praise encourages her to do |
| Every child likes to be understood. Your child might | | | | even better. Tell her to use honest praise with friends |
| have to ask his friend some questions to find out what | | | | too. They'll love her for it. |
| he is thinking. He could start by saying, "I have a | | | | Third Parenting Tip for Children: |
| question. Why are you so mad at your sister?" This | | | | Take turns playing each other's games. Kids don't like |
| gives his friend an open door to talking about the | | | | kids who have to be first or insist only playing their |
| problem. Tell your child to listen well. He might follow up | | | | games. If your child won't play other kids' games, he |
| with a comment like, "I can see why you're so mad." | | | | won't have many friends. Your son can learn to ask, |
| Notice your child isn't agreeing with his friend's point of | | | | "What do you want to play." He can learn to tell |
| view. He is seeing why his friend's upset. | | | | himself, "This will be fun." |
| His friend will feel understood. Your child won't be | | | | The other kids will enjoy your child because he's a |
| saying, "Nobody likes me," because his friend will like | | | | good sport. He won't be saying, "Nobody likes me." His |
| him for listening. | | | | friends will enjoy playing their games and his games. |
| Parenting Tips for Teaching Social Skills: | | | | Parenting Tips for Teaching Social Skills: |
| The best way to teach your child what you mean is to | | | | Train each of your children to take turns choosing |
| start with, "I have a question for you. Ask it. Listen to | | | | which board games to play on Family Night. Talk about |
| your child. Later ask him how he felt when you saw | | | | fairness. Teach them the importance of positive self |
| things from his point of view. Tell him to share this | | | | talk like, "This is fun. I'm a good sport by playing my |
| friendly technique with other kids. | | | | sister's game. I'm not the king of the universe. They |
| Second Parenting Tip for Children: | | | | don't have to play my games every time." |
| Tell her, "Praise your friend for improving in school | | | | Solutions for Loneliness: |
| work or sports." Every child likes a "pat on the back" | | | | If you teach your children to see things from another's |
| for trying to improve. Your daughter can give that pat | | | | point of view, praise their friends, and take turns playing |
| with encouraging words like, "You got a perfect score | | | | each other's games, they won't be saying, "Nobody |
| on your spelling test. You sure know how to kick the | | | | likes me." They won't be feeling the poverty of |
| ball. You climbed the tree higher than the other kids." | | | | loneliness and being unloved. They will feel the joy of |
| Words of praise help friends try to do even better. | | | | belonging. You can teach them the social skills they |
| Your daughter won't be saying, "Nobody likes me." | | | | need. Why not start today? |