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Did you know your preschooler can learn important relationship skills through healthy friendships now? Your preschooler will learn how to lead and negotiate with others through friendship. These are only a few reasons friendships are important in the preschool years, so keep reading for some tips on helping your little one make friends.
Equip Your Preschooler
Start with teaching your preschooler the skills needed to be a good friend. Help your little one learn to share, take turns, listen to others, express his needs effectively, and handle conflict. These skills may come easily to your child or he may need extra practice and guidance. Either way, you can help build and strengthen these skills by modeling and practicing through conversation and play. Games are a fantastic way to build all the above skills while having fun with your preschooler.
Read Books about Friendship
Take a trip to the library with your little one and pick out a few books about friendship. Try to guide your child to books which show characters being a poor friend and a good friend.
Know the Classmates
Obtain a list of your preschooler’s classmates. Learn the other student’s names. At the end of the school day, ask your preschooler specific questions about classmates. You will gather information on her classmate’s interests, likes, and dislikes through these questions. You will then use this information to determine who your preschooler may hit it off with or whom she may clash.
Plan a Playdate
Once you have played preschool matchmaker, reach out to the other parent and arrange a playdate outside of school. Consider the location for your playdate and the needs of the children involved. If you use a public location, try to plan for a time when the location is less busy. If your preschooler struggles with identifying social cues or sharing, practice the skills your child struggles with prior to the playdate. Consider putting away any toys your child may not want to share to avoid conflict, if you are hosting the playdate in your home. Set a time limit for the playdate. Preschoolers have a limited attention span and when they get bored with an activity or person they will find ways to end their boredom, which could lead to conflicts with the other child.
Don’t get discouraged if your preschooler doesn’t hit it off with others right away or one friendship ends. Much like your growing preschooler, preschool friendships change from day to day.
If you enjoyed this blog, please take a look at our school’s blog page. There you will find blogs on a wide variety of topics that we believe will be beneficial to you and your family.
Want to learn more about Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Katy located in Katy, Texas? Our mission is to provide secure, nurturing, and educational environments for children ages 6 weeks – 12 years. We help children to bloom into responsible, considerate, and contributing members of society. For more information, give us a call or stop by for a tour! We’d love to get to know you and your family.