HOW TO USE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES TO HELP YOUR CHILD IMPROVE:

Social Skills

Social skills are fundamental for children in getting along with their peers, working as a part of a team, and understanding the behaviors and expectations of others. Children who experience difficulties with social skills may report having very few friends and feeling isolated or rejected from their peers. They may have difficulties in reading nonverbal cues, display a poor understanding of personal boundaries, and tend to take language literally. Difficulties with social skills are often seen in children who may be impulsive, have difficulties in regulating their feelings, and may be anxious in social situations.  Common indications of difficulties with social skills include:

• Problems in recognizing conventions and nonverbal cues
• Limited involvement with peers and social anxiety

Further information about social skills can be found in the LearningWorksforKids.com sections on Social Thinking, Asperger’s Disorder, and Resources. Digital technologies can be used to support, practice, and enhance social skills at home. Parents are encourage to utilize children’s other strengths, intelligences, and interests to assist them with their social skills difficulties. (LearningWorks for Kids emphasizes that we do not view “cyber relationships” as a substitute for person-to-person interactions and involvement.) However, digital technologies used in conjunction with parent, teacher, and peer mediation/involvement may be helpful with the preceding list.: