Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents welcomed new babies as they struggled to adjust to unexpected circumstances. Babies born during the early months of the pandemic did not get as much face-to-face interaction as they would have otherwise.
Furthermore, toddlers who would have entered preschool in-person during a “normal” year may have stayed home instead. While they might have interacted with close relatives or neighbors besides their parents, many did not get exposure to social situations with other children their age.
If you had a baby during the pandemic, or your child was a toddler who did not spend their first year or two of school in person, you might be concerned about their social skills. Here’s how to help your child socialize, boost their confidence in social scenarios, and improve their manners.
1. Be Clear About Expectations
Children need clear direction to learn. While they intuitively absorb lots of information through their environment, learning social skills after the pandemic might require more direct instruction.
Before entering a new social situation, talk to your child about what they can expect. Explain what will happen once they arrive, and what manners they can practice. When they know what to anticipate, they’ll feel calmer and more relaxed.
2. Practice Scenarios At Home
Maybe you’ve noticed that your child struggles to behave at restaurants, or that they seem uncomfortable when it comes to greeting new people. You can help them prepare for different situations by practicing at home.
What if you want your child to feel comfortable dining in a restaurant and demonstrate good manners? You can pretend that you’re in a restaurant at home! Try role-playing and taking your child’s order. You can also practice your manners together.
3. Stick With Routines
The pandemic disrupted many families’ routines. You may have found it hard to stick to a routine in your household if you suddenly found yourself working from home while trying to care for your child. But children need routines, and you’ll likely notice that your child’s behavior improves significantly when your household adheres to predictable routines.
By implementing structured routines for your family, you can schedule regular social activities, and your child will be in a better mood when it’s time for an outing or a play date.
4. Go Slowly
You do not need to pack your child’s calendar with social activities. In fact, if you try to sign them up for too many activities, or schedule more play dates than they can really handle, they might end up feeling completely overwhelmed.
Rather than enjoying social situations, they may throw tantrums, or complain that they don’t want to go. Keep an eye on your child’s behavior, and make sure that they’re not overstimulated. You can always duck out early if necessary.
5. Ask for Help
What if your child is having trouble with social issues that you just don’t know how to help them with? You might have tried a few methods for helping your child socialize already, with little to no progress.
If you’re concerned for your child’s mental health, and you’re worried that they’re not making friends or having an easy time interacting with others, you do not have to navigate this on your own. Your child may benefit from working with a therapist who specializes in helping young children. With their support, your child can learn valuable social skills in a safe environment.
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Do you suspect that your child is struggling with their social skills in the wake of the pandemic? Working with a therapist can help. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session with postpartum therapy or child therapy.