Growing children have a lot to learn, and their first step to learning is observation. They take in the minute details of how their parents, and others around them behave, talk, and mimic their mannerisms. While this is a known fact, parents try to imbibe age-appropriate skills among their children. If you have a toddler at home to train, scroll for tips and benefits of interpersonal skills that come in handy for children of all ages.

Interpersonal skills build the foundation of one’s personality, and that makes it imperative for us to start training our children at the right age. When children meet their peers and interact with people outside of their core family is when parents can judge their interpersonal skills.  Some children may be shy and need some guidance to go about this skill but some may be natural at it.

🌟Benefits of Interpersonal Skills among Children

1. Boosts confidence

Children with good interpersonal skills find it easy to interact with peers and individuals older than them. This not only boosts their confidence to be themselves and speak their mind but also helps them believe in themselves and stand their ground. Imagine having a group conversation and you don’t have the confidence to contribute to it; yes, that’s a terrible feeling. To avoid this instance from happening to a child, help develop their interpersonal skills at a young age.

2. Easy to make friends       

Confident children find it easy to talk to their peers and make friends. Having a sense of belonging to a group is of utmost importance for children to feel safe and be themselves. They seek to be accepted and be a part of a social circle that they call their own. And as we all know, friends make for an essential part of one’s childhood.  

3. Willingness to participate in various activities

Confident children are the first ones to raise their hand during discussions or Q&A rounds; regardless of they knowing the answer or not. Students with great interpersonal skills are also willing to participate in various extracurricular activities such as music, dancing, sports, or elocution. They further build on their public-speaking skills, and create a bigger social circle for themselves.    

Interpersonal skills for student success can be taught and practiced on a day-to-day basis at home and school. It requires team effort and contribution from all stakeholders to deliver quality outcomes; and the quality outcome will be a confident child, who doesn’t fear expressing their thoughts.    

🌟Train your child with interpersonal skills with these simple tips

1. Begin with appropriate greetings

This is the simplest way to train your child. Parents can take to simple, everyday greetings at home, and their child can observe and pick up on them easily. Modeling the correct way to use greetings for children like using “hello, hey, hi” and appropriate parting comments when you leave the house for work or an errand. These are some essential soft skills to learn. These practices can make a great example for kids to follow.

2. Pretend Play

Pretend to play with your children where you let them take the lead. For instance, let them be the store manager and you pretend to be their customer or let the child be the teacher and you pretend to be the student. This will help your child take the lead in playing their part. These pretend plays can help build the child’s confidence and they may willingly want to play with their peers. This practice can be very rewarding.  

3. Study and activity groups

Teachers can create project groups for students to learn about collaboration and teamwork. The groups can be shuffled from time to time and the students get to work with different peers, which enables a chance to make new friends.

4. Participate in outside classroom activities

There are tons of activities to do in a school other than academics, and they all carry a certain value in a child’s life. Sports can help students learn about sportsmanship, respect their peers and the play, and students learn the indispensable value of teamwork. Grouping talents can foster friendship among like-minded students who can create a lifetime of experiences together.

5. Promote kindness as a habit

Use words like thank you, I appreciate it, and sorry whenever applicable. The kids will understand and mimic your pattern, and this practice will lay a solid foundation for their mannerisms. To further promote kindness, teachers can ask students to document a kind act and share the experience with the entire classroom. This practice will make students more aware of their behaviour with each other, in the end creating a positive environment within the classroom. A healthy learning space makes students feel more secure about themselves, boosting their confidence and willingness to participate in all activities.

6. Dedicate soft skills for student success

Like any other subject – maths, economics, or science, children can adapt to learning soft skills. Interpersonal skills in education should take the top priority for it’s a life skill that every individual can thrive within any field of work. It will not only enhance the learning experience but also enhance the relationships among peers. 

Bottom  Line

People skills or interpersonal skills go a long way for every individual; not only in school or social circles but also makes them self-sufficient and confident at work. The said skills help nurture their entrepreneurial skills, their personal relationships, and social belonging.    

Every individual seeks a safe haven to belong to, be it at home or at work. We seek for a work space that is positive, where we look forward to being associated with a group of peers that create a healthy work atmosphere. The end goal should be to have colleagues with whom we can grow side by side. Everyone thrives in a positive environment, and so do children; in fact it becomes essential for children to be nurtured in a healthy space. Every parent and teacher aims to create a secure space for children, where they can freely express their emotions, share their thoughts, and just be themselves.      

When a student looks forward to going to school, it means they feel secure in their learning space. And us parents, must thank the teachers, coordinators, and peers for creating a safe haven for our children. But that rarely is the case, wouldn’t you parents and teachers agree?

A healthy learning classroom environment means the children get along, and have a sense of belonging towards each other. When it’s a new class, the teachers can drive a few team-building activities to develop a positive classroom environment.

Let’s look at some outdoor and classroom-based team building activities that promote healthy collaboration among students:

Team building activities are designed for students to trust and support each other. It’s essential they feel a sense of belonging among them. These activities also help develop myriad of interpersonal skills such as social interaction, building relations, and communication skills, among others.

1. Silent Line Up

Get children to line up in ascending or descending order, or in the sequence of their roll number. This classroom activity has the benefit of children getting to know each other well. It could make for a very good conversation starter among children, of course after the game. Besides it being the best team building activity among children, it also benefits the teachers with some much needed quiet.         

2. Scavenger Hunt

Divide the students into 4-5 teams, and provide them with cues to find objects around the play area. Children respond really well to games that involve them having to solve problems, it’s fun and engaging. This activity is designed for children to work as a team, taking assistance from one another. Communication, strategizing skills, and interpersonal skills are at play in this activity.

3. Human Knot

This simple activity requires children to sit in a circle and hold each other’s hands randomly. Once their hands are entangled, the children have to try and release the knot without losing their grip. This activity puts children in an intimate circle, allowing them to interact with their peers and make new friends.

4. Hula Hoop Pass

Children can stand in a line, holding each other’s hands, and have a hula hoop pass through them all. Putting a hula hoop on the arm of the child that stands at the beginning of the line. Aren’t these team-work activities simple and fun?   

5. Build it Challenge 

Here’s another game that enhances problem solving and interpersonal skills among children. Besides, classroom teamwork games can never go wrong! Offer different teams a basket each full supplies, stationeries, and easily accessible objects that can help them build a tower. This teamwork calls for communication, focus, and smoothen the soft skills among children. These are skills that enhance their ability to work with others. And ofcourse, the tallest tower wins!

6. Put a puzzle together

This indoor classroom team building activity is perfect for those rainy days. Take multiple printouts of a cartoon, and cut it into appropriate sizes for children to put it back together. Different teams should have different pieces so the teams trade the right pieces with one another.  This makes for a great collaborative based learning and enhances interpersonal skills.       

7. Design a bulletin Board

Creating bulletin boards together as a team can be an engaging and a fun activity. The ideal way to go about is to divide the students into teams and delegate different subjects for each team. This team work activity will bring children together to create their own design. Right from ideating the concept to designing the entire board, the team collaborates to finish the given task.          

Facilitate team building activities for students at the beginning of the new year so the students can get to know their peers well. These would help break the ice and could be a start of a great friendship.   

The Final Word

The idea of team-based activities in school is for children to get together and conclude a task at hand. The collaboration exudes many skills among children that are essential for building their personal life. One of the biggest benefits of these activities is creating a positive classroom environment, which is essential for children to thrive.          

As an increasingly popular teaching approach, project based learning (PBL) has been making waves in the educational landscape. By actively engaging students in exploring and resolving real-world problems, learners connect to their subjects better. Integrating projects into the curriculum enables students to delve into their interests, tackle intricate issues, and easily understand concepts. All in all, this approach is designed to nurture creativity and cultivate critical thinking and collaboration skills. 

Tapas, India’s premier 100% project based learning school, offers personalized education. The students are well aware of real-world problems and the school is preparing them for future challenges. All things considered, this enjoyable and relevant approach is centered around the STEAM-focused Cambridge Syllabus. The syllabus is skillfully adapted by educators to create a holistic and interconnected learning experience for students.

Project-based education is grounded in practicality, emphasizing real-life projects and case studies. After all, it provides students with hands-on experience and cultivates skills applicable in their future workplaces. This practical approach yields viable solutions, increasing their likelihood of real-world success. Lets take a look at examples to ignite creativity among students:

💡Community Garden Project

One excellent example of a project based learning activity is creating a community garden. This project allows students to research, plan, and execute the creation of a park in their school or local community. Students can work together to determine the best plants to grow, create a garden layout, and develop a maintenance plan. This project teaches students about horticulture and environmental science and fosters a sense of community and responsibility.

💡School Newspaper or Magazine

Creating a school newspaper or magazine is another excellent PBL opportunity. Students can take on various roles, such as writers, editors, photographers, and designers, to produce a publication representing their school community. All in all, the circular can cover relevant topics such as school events, student achievements, current affairs, and even investigative pieces. 

For execution, students should conduct thorough research to gather accurate information for their articles. This may involve interviewing teachers, students, and experts, as well as researching online and in libraries. All things considered, this creativity-based learning teaches students valuable skills in journalism, graphic design, and teamwork. In addition, it also provides a platform for them to express their creativity and voice.

💡Entrepreneurship and Business Planning

Inspire students to think like entrepreneurs by having them create their small businesses or products. Students can work in teams to identify a need in their community, develop a business plan, create marketing materials, and present their ideas to a panel of judges. This PBL activity teaches students about economics, marketing, and financial planning while also fostering creativity and innovation.

Entrepreneurship education allows students to explore their passions, take calculated risks, and learn from successes and failures. After all, creativity based learning cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset that values adaptability, perseverance, and the ability to identify and seize opportunities. 

💡Environmental Awareness Campaign

Encourage students to become environmental advocates by creating an awareness campaign about a specific environmental issue, such as plastic pollution, deforestation, or climate change. Students can research the topic, develop educational materials, and plan events or activities to raise awareness and inspire action within their school or community. Examples include organizing a plastic clean-up drive, hosting guest speakers or workshops on plastic pollution, arranging film screenings followed by discussions, or conducting a plastic-free challenge within the school.

💡Conducting Scientific Investigations

Science projects are a classic example of PBL that sparks student curiosity and creativity. Assign students a scientific investigation where they can explore a topic of their choice through hands-on experiments, data collection, and analysis. All in all, this project based approach promotes scientific thinking, research skills, and the application of the scientific method. Whether it’s studying the effects of pollutants on plant growth or investigating the principles of motion, students can actively engage in the process of scientific discovery.

The Bottom Line

Square Panda India brings real-life context and technology to the curriculum through a project based learning approach, enabling students to become independent workers, critical thinkers, and lifelong learners. By engaging in hands-on projects, students gain practical experience, develop essential skills, and discover the joy of learning that extends far beyond the classroom.

It’s no surprise that kids may find it tough to express their emotions into words. When they’re feeling something they can’t quite put into words, they might act out in frustration. As parents, it’s essential for us to help our little ones learn about emotional literacy. This valuable skill boosts their overall wellbeing and paves the way for the future. Emotionally literate kids tend to have better self-control, improved physical and mental health, and they even perform better in school.

NEP 2020 highlights the importance of Social and Emotional Learning for children’s holistic development. It advocates for an education system that fosters logical, compassionate, and empathetic individuals. Accordingly, Delhi University introduced emotional intelligence courses in 2022-23. These courses empower students to create positive relationships, enhance personal competence, and develop self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management skills.

Here are some strategies that parents can implement to encourage emotional literacy in your children:

😊Encourage Open Communication

Creating an environment where your kid feels comfortable discussing their emotions is the first step in fostering emotional literacy. Encourage your younger one to share their feelings, thoughts, and experiences with you. Make it a point to listen actively and empathize with their emotions. This open communication will help your child feel supported and understood, making it easier for them to express their feelings in the future.

😊Be a Role Model

As a parent, you are your child’s first and most important role model. Demonstrating emotional literacy in your daily life will teach them how to recognize and express their emotions effectively. Share your feelings with your little one, and explain how you handle different emotions. This will not only help them understand the importance of emotional literacy but also give them a concrete example to follow.

😊Teach Emotional Vocabulary

Helping your kid build an emotional vocabulary is crucial for their emotional quotient. Introduce them to words representing emotions like happiness, sadness, anger, frustration, and fear. Motivate them to use these terms to convey their emotions. For example, when your child is upset, encourage them to say, “I feel sad” or “I feel frustrated,” helping them identify and express their emotions effectively. You can also introduce more complex emotions, like jealousy, embarrassment, or disappointment, as your younger one grows older and gains a better understanding of emotions.

😊Validate their Emotions

Validating your kid’s emotions means acknowledging and accepting their feelings without judgment. This is an essential aspect of developing emotional intelligence. Respond with empathy and understanding when your child shares their emotions with you. Avoid minimizing or dismissing their feelings. Instead, help them feel heard and valued by saying things like, “I can see that you’re upset,” or “It’s okay to feel sad sometimes.”

😊Encourage Self-Awareness

Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand one’s own emotions. To help your kid develop self-awareness, encourage them to reflect on their feelings and emotions. Ask open-ended questions that prompt them to think about their emotions, such as “How did that make you feel?” or “What do you think caused you to feel that way?” This practice will help them become more in tune with their emotions and better equipped to manage them.

😊Use Books and Media to Teach about Emotions

Books, movies, and TV shows can be powerful tools for teaching emotional literacy. Choose age-appropriate stories that feature characters experiencing various emotions. Discuss the emotions portrayed in the story and how the characters handle them. This can help your child relate to the characters and learn from their experiences. Developing emotional intelligence through stories or films enables children to understand their emotions better, empathize with others, and effectively manage relationships.

😊Practice Empathy

Encourage your kid to consider how others might feel in different situations. Ask questions like, “How do you think your friend felt when that happened?” or “How would you feel if you were in their shoes?” This will help them develop empathy and become more emotionally literate.

😊Make Time for Play

Play is an essential part of a child’s emotional development. Through play, children can explore their emotions, practice social skills, and learn how to cope with different situations. Encourage them to participate in imaginative play, role-playing, and other activities that foster emotional expression. For instance, you could provide them with toys and props that inspire creative storytelling or set up scenarios that allow them to act out different emotions and experiences.

😊Seek Professional Help if Needed

If you’re concerned about your child’s emotional quotient or if they’re struggling to cope with their emotions, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can provide guidance and support for both you and your child.

The Final Word

Recognizing the importance of emotional development in early childhood is essential for cultivating emotionally intelligent and resilient individuals who can navigate life’s challenges with ease. At Square Panda India, we firmly believe that emotional literacy is the cornerstone of personal growth and social well-being. Our comprehensive programs emphasize emotional intelligence alongside cognitive and academic development. 

Implementing social skills can be challenging for children. It’s not something that comes naturally to everyone, and it takes a whole lot of practice and hard work to get the hang of it. While some children pick up these skills naturally, others might find certain aspects tougher. If you notice that your little one is having difficulty making friends or getting along with others, take a step back and observe what’s happening. Think about possible factors like starting a new school jitter, being a bit on the shy side, or maybe even dealing with teasing from other kids. By considering these things, you can better help your child tackle their social challenges. 

The learning loss survey showed that 58% of teachers feel students’ social skills suffered due to Covid-related school closures, leading to shorter attention spans and distractions. Thus, it’s vital to help children develop their social skills now more than ever. With some good old parental guidance, kids can conquer the social pressures of school, level up their social skills, and build some seriously awesome relationships along the way.

🤝The Importance of Social Skills in School

Kids also need to be able to express themselves clearly and effectively so that others can understand what they’re saying. This includes being able to share information about themselves and their interests without feeling self-conscious or embarrassed about what they’re talking about. It also means being able to read other people’s facial expressions and body language to better understand what they’re trying to communicate.

Before diving into the tips, let’s first understand why social skills are so crucial for children in school. Building social skills helps children:

• Feel more confident and secure in their school environment
• Foster a sense of belonging and acceptance among peers
• Enhance their communication and problem-solving abilities
• Build resilience and cope better with challenges or setbacks
• Improve their overall academic performance and future career prospects

Making friends and building relationships is a challenge for many kids, often because they feel intimidated by the social expectations of school. However, socializing in a positive way doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating – it can be accomplished with a few simple strategies.

🤝Encourage Active Listening

Listening is a crucial social skill that lays the foundation for effective communication. Teach your child the importance of active listening by giving their full attention to the speaker, making eye contact, and showing empathy. This will help them better understand others’ feelings and perspectives, making it easier to build connections and friendships.

🤝Practice Good Manners

Good manners go a long way in creating a positive impression on others. Encourage your child to say “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me” in their daily interactions. Teach them the importance of respecting others’ personal space, waiting their turn, and sharing. These simple acts of courtesy will make your child more approachable and likable among their peers.

🤝Teach Empathy and Compassion

Empathy and compassion are key ingredients for building solid relationships. Teach your child to put themselves in others’ shoes and understand their feelings. Encourage them to offer help and support to classmates who may be struggling or facing challenges. Your child will naturally attract positive relationships by being a caring and empathetic friend.

🤝Promote Positive Body Language

Non-verbal cues play a significant role in communicating and connecting with others. Teach your child the importance of positive body language, such as maintaining eye contact, smiling, and having an open posture. This will make them appear more approachable and friendly, helping them attract new friends and build relationships.

🤝Encourage Participation in Group Activities

Participating in group activities, such as sports, clubs, or after-school programs, provides an excellent opportunity for your child to meet new friends with similar interests. Encourage your child to join activities they enjoy and actively engage with their peers. This will not only help them develop new skills but also foster a sense of belonging and harmony.

🤝Develop Conversation Skills

Being able to initiate and maintain a conversation is essential for making friends. Help your child develop their conversation skills by practicing open-ended questions, showing genuine interest in others, and sharing their experiences. Role-playing different social scenarios at home can also be a fun way to practice these skills and build your child’s confidence.

🤝Foster Resilience and Conflict Resolution

Conflicts and disagreements are a natural part of any relationship. Teach your child the importance of staying calm and composed during conflicts and finding constructive solutions to problems. Encourage them to apologize and forgive when necessary, and help them understand that it’s okay to agree to disagree sometimes. Building resilience and conflict resolution skills will help your child navigate challenging social situations and maintain strong relationships.

🤝Be a Positive Role Model

Children learn a lot from observing their parents and caregivers. Be a positive role model by demonstrating healthy social skills, such as active listening, empathy, and effective communication. Show your child the importance of maintaining strong relationships with friends, family, and colleagues, and they will likely follow your example.

Final Thoughts

Helping your child with strong social skill development is an ongoing process that requires patience, guidance, and encouragement. Using these tips and strategies, you can support your child in making friends and building lasting relationships in school. Remember, every child is unique, and it’s essential to be patient and understanding as they navigate their social journey. They’ll grow into confident, compassionate, and socially adept individuals with your love and support.

Square Panda India’s comprehensive programs go beyond teaching basic academic skills. They also emphasize the importance of social skills and provide children with the necessary tools to understand and develop them. By incorporating interactive activities and engaging content, we aim to empower children to navigate social interactions with confidence and empathy.