Helping Your Child Make Friends

Your child is the light of your life and you will always be there for them, although, maybe not always physically present. It can be pretty darn scary for your child if they are just beginning pre-K classes. They are so used to having you around for comfort and protection, that when they suddenly find themselves in a new environment with children and teachers that they have never met before, it can be difficult for them to find the confidence to make friends. Don’t worry! This is completely normal and they’ll find their way in time, but there are a few things that you can do to help them.

In this blog post, we’ll provide a few tips for parents looking to help their child make friends with their classmates. If you have any questions or you are looking to enroll your child in one of our classes at our child care center in Coon Rapids, then feel free to contact us today!
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Be An Example
Your little one learns and develops a lot of their traits and tendencies through watching you. You are their hero! That being said, you have to lead by example when it comes to socializing with other people! It doesn’t matter if it is a family member, a good friend, or a complete stranger, your child is always taking mental notes so make sure that you are being courteous and respectful to everyone that you encounter and teach your child how to break the ice and be friendly with those around you.

Encourage Them
If your kiddo is having a hard time becoming buddies with the others in their class, it can be incredibly discouraging and will have them dreading the next time that they go. They might stop trying to make friends, thinking that maybe it’s just a lost cause. As you know, this is not true! You need to make sure that you continue to encourage them when times get hard and let them know that things are going to look up.

Listen
One of the most important things that you can do for your child’s mental development and social skills is to listen to them. Make sure that you hear them out when they speak about the struggles that they are going through and that you offer them words of advice on how they can overcome their struggles.  

Teach Them To Be Polite
It is so important, not only at an early age but all throughout their lives, for your child to know to be polite with the people that they meet. One crucial aspect of this is the act of sharing. Teach them how to share their possessions, if they have siblings then this is a great way to do it! Students in our child care classes make friends much easier if they are not possessive over their toys or other items.

Soon your child will realize that making friends isn’t as scary or as difficult as they convinced themselves, and then they will realize the wonders that come through friendship. If you would like to learn more tips or have questions about child care in Coon Rapids, then contact Compass Learning Center today!

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