Courtney Evenchik a Who’s The Boss parenting coach. and I continue to have our planning meetings for our new Social Skills class, for girls, starting October 8.
We are wading through all the reading materials that Courtney has amassed over the years. Courtney keeps on pulling books, pamphlets, and loose papers out of her bag. It is a bit like watching Mary Poppins. (Actually, Mary Poppins did a great job teaching Jane and Michael good Social Skills.)
As we work through the material we are both fascinated with the what one needs to know in order to get by socially. Things that maybe natural for us but can be so hard for kids.
Take for example the skills that are necessary to be a good listener. If we break down good listening into steps it looks like this:
1. Look at the person who is talking
2. Sit quietly
3. Think about what is being said
4. Say yes, nod your head or make listening sounds
5. Ask a question about the topic to find out more
Many children do not know how to listen or even how to just show that they are listening. This can be frustrating for adults and for kids. Teaching kids about how important listening is and the skills to do so can be helpful to them and the adults in their lives.
To further encourage listening skills we can explain to children that others might think that someone is not listening even though they have heard what was said. They need to know to face and make eye contact with their friend, or adult. They should also remember not to laugh, fidget or play with something. We can also practice what questions would be relevant to the topic that is being discussed.
Because this is an article for parents, it is a great time to remind us, that kids do have a hard time listening to adults. Children have a hard time making eye contact for more than a few seconds, and they usually will fidget and fuss. This does not mean that they are not listening.
Stay tuned for more adventures on the Social Skills front.
Want to sign your child up for the Social Skills class for Girls?
You can call Courtney Evenchik @216-932-2800 ext.8148 or email evenchikc@bellefairejcb.org