Social Skills Development

My Child Can’t Make Friends & Keep Them - What is Wrong With Her?

My Child Can’t Make Friends & Keep Them - What is Wrong With Her?

If They Could, They Would. Children with social skills weaknesses need help learning those basic skills to participate socially so they aren’t doing something wrong and getting pulled off to the bench.

How Can I Get Through To My Kid That He Has To Stop Arguing With His Teachers So Much

How Can I Get Through To My Kid That He Has To Stop Arguing With His Teachers So Much

Taking other people’s perspective and understanding that other people have an inner emotional life and being able to detect that point of view is known as Theory of Mind.  When someone has Theory of Mind it means they can detect the perspective, emotions and understand what motivates others….

Should I Ban My Teen From Seeing “Bad” Friends?

Should I Ban My Teen From Seeing “Bad” Friends?

Q: “My teenager is having a rocky time with friendships. Lately, she is choosing questionable friends. These ‘friends’ are not treating her well, and, because of their influence, she seems to be heading in a troubling direction. I don’t like these kids, and I am worried. Do I ban the friendships?”

We May Have Eliminated “Last Picked” But Not “Picked On”

We May Have Eliminated “Last Picked” But Not “Picked On”

Kids are still going to be picked on at school and we should not underestimate the power of that dread. As we are well into the school year, many kids are falling victim to the class bully. Others may be suffering from being left out of the “in” crowd, silently scolded for being different simply by the fact that they are on the periphery and are not welcomed into a group.

A Castle with Walls Too Thick to Penetrate

A Castle with Walls Too Thick to Penetrate

Avoidance is a sign. Not a sign that the child does not care. Or a sign that he lacks motivation, is resistant, or is just uninterested in having friends, but a sign that he does not know how to break down the barriers so he can participate, or “join in”. Without a roadmap or help with his social plan, children and teenagers often shut down.  

Birthday Parties, the Cafeteria, and Other Social Obstacles

Birthday Parties, the Cafeteria, and Other Social Obstacles

You don’t need to helicopter to help your middle-schooler make friends in fact, too much interference can do more harm than good. Follow these strategies to boost your tween’s confidence.

Your Child Isn’t Defiant — His Skills Are Lagging

Your Child Isn’t Defiant — His Skills Are Lagging

“If he could, he would.” Children with ADHD don’t always act rudely or awkwardly on purpose — sometimes, they simply lack the executive function skills to keep up with confusing social norms and fast-paced conversations. Here’s how parents can reframe these social challenges and better bolster weak skills.