| If your child is apprehensive when it comes to people | | | | either choose to interact with other children or play |
| there are some measures you can take to help | | | | independently. Of course we would want to |
| encourage better social skills. | | | | encourage her to interact with others but this way it |
| The first thing you must understand is that the world | | | | doesn't feel forced upon her. While at the playgroup, |
| can be very overwhelming for some children. Just | | | | spot the most social i.e. talkative child there. This child |
| everyday noises can be alarming to a child such as | | | | can be older than your child. In fact older is good |
| the sound of the garbage truck on your street or the | | | | because older children are a bit more understanding |
| sirens from a fire truck. I once nannied for a family that | | | | and patient with younger children. |
| had a neighborhood friend named Kelsey. The little girl | | | | Once you have spotted a very social child, introduce |
| was 5 years old and had very poor social skills. She | | | | your child to him/her and give them something that |
| would absolutely freak out if the sisters I was caring | | | | would allow for interaction together such as some |
| for ever so slightly bickered. And if the younger sister; | | | | sand toys, a ball tossing game that has Velcro hand |
| whom was 2 at the time started to cry, the little girl | | | | mitts or a Frisbee. After playing just a few minutes |
| would cover her ears and run out of the room at | | | | together the children will start bonding and interacting |
| lightning speed. | | | | entirely on their own without your assistance. |
| That little girl was not exposed to enough social | | | | The key would be consistency. Join a playgroup that is |
| encounters and didn't know how to handle normal peer | | | | not flaky and will be active. After such a play group try |
| conflict. To help a child like Kelsey, I think it would have | | | | sending your child to the child care at your gym while |
| been best to get her more active with play groups and | | | | you work out, even if its just for a 30 minute session. |
| play dates when she was younger. Since some years | | | | You can eventually work it up to an hour or an hour |
| have already been lost and a child can be pretty much | | | | and a half. |
| set in their ways at the age of 5. Kelsey must get | | | | The same is to be said for a Sunday school. Start off |
| used to play groups that won't overwhelm her but that | | | | by dropping your child off in the Sunday School for just |
| also do not caudal her. | | | | 30 minutes and each Sunday increasing the time until |
| Unfortunately Kelsey is too old to join Gymboree | | | | he/she wants to stay the entire session. |
| classes but a good start would be taking her to a | | | | Taking steps slowly and being consistent can help your |
| playgroup held at a park. This way Kelsey gets familiar | | | | child grow out of their shyness and antisocial skills. |
| with some of the same children each week and can | | | | |