With school closed in Chicago until late April (for the time being) so much focus has been around how parents are navigating home-schooling their students and the importance of reading, writing and math skills not suffering during this out-of-school period. But just as important as math and reading, are your students’ social skills. In fact, during a time of crisis like the COVID_19 pandemic, your child’s social and emotional well-being is one of the most important things to focus on and pay attention to.
Social skills are an essential life skill that help with our mental and physical wellbeing. Positive social skills for children include:
- The ability to make and keep friends
- Empathy
- Sharing with others
- Accepting peer ideas
- Joining and playing with others
What to Look For and What You Can Do
Have you noticed your child struggling with any one of these skills? Try scheduling a virtual play date with friends, practice conversations at family meals, play boardgames and do puzzles as a family or practice both winning and losing at games. These simple activities can help to improve these critical skills and encourage overall development.
If you’re noticing your child is regularly struggling with regulating their emotions, engaging in reciprocal conversations, understanding personal space, problem solving, flexible thinking or perspective taking, then it may be time to seek help. Structured social skills training for children provides them with additional learning opportunities in this essential skill development area.
Virtual Social Skills Groups
Student Savvy Clubs is now offering Virtual Social Skills Groups allowing students to work on these important skills while at home. These 30-45 minute sessions facilitated by a Speech Pathologist, Licensed Social Worker or Mental Healthcare Professional will include a virtual learning environment with activities that will focus on improving students:
- Communication skills
- Understanding and use of non-verbal language skills
- Social thinking skills
- Identification and expression of emotions
- Learning & development of appropriate coping skills
- Making and maintaining friendships
- Dealing with stress, anger, and frustration
- Problem solving skills
To learn more about our Virtual Social Skills Groups, Contact Us Here