“How your child relates with peers and friends might seem like something you have little control over. But, parents and caregivers can make a big difference in helping their children develop healthy relationships and friendships, using tools that sustain them later in life.

“A lot of times parents think, ‘Kids will be kids—as long as they’re coming home and doing what I want them to do, that’s all that matters,’” said Mitch Prinstein, PhD, chief science officer at APA, who studies peer relations in kids. But research shows that children who are likeable among their classmates in childhood fare better than those who are less likeable, perhaps because negative peer interactions promote patterns of aggressive behavior…”

“As children get older, it is natural for friendships to change. Children develop socially at different rates, and interests and activities change.   Associated changes include who they spend time with, and who they prefer to be around. As a result, they experience the loss of friendships, and this can be painful whether your child is the one changing, or her best friend is changing. For children, this loss can feel profound because they can spend hours on end in person or communicating with a friend, and then be suddenly cut off. Also, children tend to think in extremes. They catastrophize, and they feel like whatever problem they are going through is forever, or that the intentions of one person extend to an entire social group. In addition, children often lack coping skills to deal with these difficult situations. They are learning, and it is these experiences that will help them later in life. However, their skills are still developing, and they need…”

“In my frequent conversations with parents of children with challenging behaviors, the most heartbreaking stories emerge when a parent talks about a child’s constant struggles with making and keeping friends. A parent will tell me they witness their child desperately wanting to have friends and be included in social activities, only to be invited to the friend’s house and then behave in a way that ensures they’ll never be invited over again. As their kids get older, friendships sometimes begin with a promising start, only to completely crumble due to their child’s inability to “be kind” or “compromise” or “respond appropriately” in different situations. This pattern repeats itself over and over again, and the parents feel helpless in knowing what they can do to stop it…”

“Teaching social skills to children is an essential aspect of their overall development. Social skills enable children to navigate social interactions, build meaningful relationships, and thrive in various settings. As parents, we play a crucial role in fostering the social-emotional growth of our children. In this blog post, we will explore practical strategies that parents can implement to teach social skills to their kids…”

“In 2022, everything happens online. Sporting events, business meetings, and even elementary school classrooms have found their way to the digital landscape—and friendships are no exception.While we used to make friends by sitting next to a new person at lunch or joining a school club, social media and online gaming have made it possible for today’s teens to develop friendships online. In fact, the Pew Research Center reports that up to 57% of teens have made a new friend online—and that percentage is only going to grow as the world gets more and more…”

“Many well-meaning parents try to protect anxious kids from their fears, but overprotecting can actually make anxiety worse. Here are pointers for helping kids cope with anxiety without reinforcing it.   

Don’t try to eliminate anxiety

Do try to help a child manage it. The best way to help kids overcome anxiety is to help them learn to tolerate it as well as they can. Over time the anxiety will...”

“Your child’s first days of school can be some of the most memorable days of their early childhood. Even if your child has attended preschool or daycare, starting school marks an important developmental milestone. Perhaps for the first time, they are spending the whole day away from home and outside their comfort zone. They may be attending a new school with all or mostly new…”

“Making friends is a crucial part of childhood development, contributing significantly to a child's social skills, emotional well-being, and overall happiness. However, for some children, forming friendships can be challenging. As parents, there are several ways we can support and guide our children in developing meaningful relationships with their…”