Building Social Skills: Helping Your Child Start School with Confidence
Starting school is an exciting milestone, and one of the most important areas that helps children feel settled and confident is their ability to get along with others. Social skills, like sharing, turn-taking, and working together, lay the foundation for making friends, joining in group activities, and learning how to manage emotions.
While all children develop social skills at their own pace, there are lots that families can do at home to support this area. The best part? Most of it happens through simple, everyday play.
What Are Social Skills?
Social skills help children build relationships and navigate group settings. Before they even start school, children begin developing the foundations for positive social interaction, including:
- Sharing and taking turns
- Cooperating in play
- Listening to others
- Managing feelings like frustration or excitement
- Expressing their own thoughts and emotions appropriately
- Understanding how their actions affect others
Why Social Skills Matter for School Readiness
When children feel confident interacting with others, they’re more likely to settle quickly into school life. Social skills support your child to:
- Make friends and join in play
- Follow routines and classroom expectations
- Work well in groups and take part in learning activities
- Handle challenges like disagreements or taking turns
- Feel included and develop a sense of belonging
Good social skills also play a role in emotional well-being. A child who knows how to ask for help, take turns, or say “stop” when someone upsets them is more likely to feel safe and confident.
Simple Ways to Build Social Skills at Home and How Toys Can Help
1. Try Organised Group Activities
Group activities provide the perfect opportunity for children to mix with others, take turns, follow simple instructions, and build confidence in group situations. These early experiences will help them feel more comfortable when they start school.
Activity Tip: Classes like Toddler Sense are filled with energetic, themed adventures that encourage teamwork, movement, and shared play – perfect for helping little ones build social confidence and adjust to group settings.
2. Role Play Everyday Scenarios
Pretend play helps children practice how to navigate social situations, like starting school and making new friends.
Toy Tip: Soft toys, dolls, and small world sets like Paddington’s Campervan are brilliant for encouraging imaginative play and acting out different scenarios.
3. Play Turn-Taking Games
Board games, card games, and even simple activities like rolling a ball back and forth help children learn patience and understand rules.
Toy Tip: Look for cooperative games where players work as a team, or simple turn-based games like Little Bug Bingo or Hocus Pocus, Everybody Focus.
4. Use Stories to Spark Conversations
Books are a great way to explore friendship, feelings, and how characters solve problems or show kindness.
Toy Tip: The Little Big Feelings books help young children to manage and talk about their emotions as they start to develop their emotional intelligence.
5. Encourage Group Play
Whether it’s playing catch or football in the garden, or building something together, group activities help children learn how to collaborate and compromise.
Toy Tip: Construction sets like MAGNA-TILES City Center 110-Piece Set or role-play toys like Paddington’s Tea Set are great for encouraging teamwork and social skills.
6. Talk About Feelings
Help your child name and understand emotions. Try saying things like, “It looks like you’re feeling frustrated. Would you like help?”
Toy Tip: Toys or dolls with expression changes like the Big Feelings Pineapple™ or apps like Moka Mera Emotions can help children explore feelings in an engaging way.
7. Practice Problem Solving
When your child disagrees, resist jumping in straight away. Ask questions like, “What do you think we should do?” to encourage them to think about how to solve the issue.
Toy Tip: In Your Shoes game is great for developing empathy and exploring conflict situations and how to resolve them.
How Do I Know if My Child Is Developing Socially?
Social development looks different for every child. Signs that your child is developing good social skills include:
- Playing alongside or with other children
- Sharing or taking turns (even if they sometimes need reminding!)
- Expressing feelings with words
- Showing empathy, like offering a toy to someone sad
- Following simple group rules or routines
If you’re concerned about your child’s social development – for example, if they’re unusually withdrawn, aggressive, or anxious around others – talk to your child’s teacher, health visitor, or GP for advice.
Final Thoughts for Parents
Strong social skills help children thrive at school and beyond. From making friends to taking part in lessons, knowing how to get along with others is just as important as academic skills.
You don’t need to overthink it, just provide plenty of chances for play, conversation, and exploration. Whether it’s playing a board game, sharing a toy tea set, or acting out a story, these everyday experiences will give your child the confidence and skills to connect with others. So keep talking, playing, and laughing together – because connection is at the heart of learning.
