Kids With Kids

Making friends is an important part of childhood. But, first, children have to learn how to choose friends wisely. Parents can help young children learn how to make friends by teaching them concepts such as sharing, compassion, and conflict resolution and how to choose good friends and resist negative influences. The articles below offer parenting tips on teaching social skills.

Letting Go…Taking Smart Risks
Watching your preschooler’s face as he or she figures out something for the first time, or puts two ideas together to create a third, is priceless. Kids ages 3 to 6 are eager to show their independence by seeking new information and opportunities to learn about themselves and the world around them. Parents might hesitate at the thought of letting go, but it’s important to know when and how to let go safely. Children learn through investigating their environments by watching, listening, and then imitating. They learn best when they are happy and when they feel safe.

Sibling Relationships
Experiencing healthy relationships with family and peers at a young age produces positive benefits for children throughout their lives. Helping your children form these healthy relationships is a primary role for parents.

Helping Lonely Children To Make Friends
Often, when we think of loneliness and children, we think of older children and teens. But, research shows that even pre-schoolers and kindergarteners can experience, describe, and understand the concept of loneliness.

Get Physical
Active play and a focus on physical fitness can help fight the growing problem of childhood obesity. Staying active as a family helps children understand the benefits of physical activity.

Conflict Resolution for Kids
We hear them shouting and we come running. Then, we hear, “He said, he did” or “She said, she did.” How can we help them solve their problems and play together?

Your Kids and Their Friends
As parents, we often stand back as our children work at developing friendships. We don’t want to be pushy, and we don’t want to judge another child. But as your child grows, so does the need for friendships and a better understanding of how to find and keep good friends.

Tips on Friendships
Kids learn how to get along by watching other kids. The more comfortable and confident they are with peers, the more likely they can choose friends wisely and resist negative influences.