Navigating Family Gatherings with Kids Who Struggle Socially – Tips to Prepare for the Holidays
When kids play, you will often hear the phrase, "I have a better idea." Check out our quick tip for when ideas differ.
In today’s world, our kids and teens tend to be more connected than ever through screens. While online friendships have their place, in-person interactions are essential for developing empathy, communication skills, and meaningful relationships. Here are some practical tips to help encourage your kids to engage socially, face-to-face, instead of exclusively online.
Children and teens often mimic adult behaviors. Show them the value of in-person friendships by prioritizing your own social time with friends. If in-person friendships are a challenge for you, check out our Building Adult Friendships website. It’s our newest effort to support friendships for adults/parents. We’re currently offering a free friendship guide!
Organize casual gatherings or activities with friends where screens are left behind. Plan outings like game nights, trampoline parks, or movies that encourage socializing. Discuss the types of activities you child or teen would be interested in doing with a friend. Create a list of fun ideas and be sure to include no cost options. With Halloween this week, the kids could carve their pumpkins together!
Be mindful of any teens who have executive function challenges when expecting them to schedule in-person social time. Here is a link to a blog/vlog about how to schedule social time CLICK HERE
Encourage your child/teen to maintain friendships both online and offline. Work together to create a social plan for how often they should see friends in person so you’re on the same page. Some kids might not have many in person friends, so those online relationships are important to them. Remind them that while it’s great to connect digitally, in-person friendships bring a unique kind of connection that screens just can’t replicate. Set limits on screen time if needed, emphasizing the benefits of having a mix of both types of social interactions.
Building these skills will help your child develop the confidence and social tools they need to thrive both online and in the real world.
If you have a child/teen/young adult with has difficulty making friends, contact us for a free trial at 978-764-2758 or schedule an intake https://calendly.com/simplysocialkids/let-s-connect
