How to deal with social skills problems in children

Social skills problems can be treated in several ways, the most common and recommended is through therapies with psychologists specialized in the subject. A psychologist can show techniques to these children so that they learn to have conversations with other people, to defend their opinions before

Social skills problems can be treated in several ways, the most common and recommended is through therapies with psychologists specialized in the subject.

A psychologist can show techniques to these children so that they learn to have conversations with other people, to defend their opinions before others or to have adequate communication skills.

Why treat social skills problems in children

Other social skills can also be addressed, such as managing conflicts, increasing self-esteem and self-confidence or learning to reduce anxiety and aggression. It is important that regardless of the therapy chosen, it fulfills the following objectives:

-Provide elements of basic socialization, such as for children to learn to thank, start a conversation with a hello, ask permission , know how to say things kindly ... Some of the techniques that we put into practice are the games of 'roleplaying', where children must act according to the character that has been assigned to them. In this way, while they are playing they are learning to adopt different behaviors according to the situation that arises.

-Provide tools that allow children to express their own desires and needs. For example, if a girl never says what she likes and ends up always playing what others want, one day she may explode and get angry because nobody is listening to her. In this case you should be taught to make requests and know how to express your own feelings.

-Give elements of prevention and conflict management mediante, through relaxation techniques that teach them how to listen and avoid aggression. For example, if a child gets angry with his teacher, he must learn not to confront her but to perform the "turtle technique" (bend his head) and accept what she says.-

Encourage the construction of social bonds, so that these children treat people with empathy, solidarity and social commitment. Be aware that if you ignore a person that can make you feel sad and that if they play with it, you will feel better.All this is what can be achieved by performing simple exercises or educational games made with psychologists on a regular basis. The sessions can be individual or in small groups, although the latter are recommended more, since this way exercises can be carried out that encourage cooperation and team work.