Social Skills = Success + Money

Good social skills can carry children to success

New research has discovered that children with good social skills are more successful and make more money later in life than those who didn’t have good social skills as children. Why is this?

According to the American Journal of Public Health’s 20-year study, “kindergarteners with strong social and emotional skills were more likely that their peers to succeed academically and professionally. Kids with weaker social skills were more likely to develop substance abuse problems, be unemployed, and get arrested.” They found that when a child has good social skills, they tend to get along better with others, feel confident and comfortable in social situations, and do better in school, and that these skills and abilities carry through school to help them to be more successful throughout their career. In fact, good social skills were found to be more of an influencing factor of success more than a child’s gender, race, or social-economic upbringing.

What social skills should parents be teaching their children and at what ages?

Parents, grandparents, and teachers can teach children social skills through role-modeling appropriate behaviors, teaching them what is acceptable, and giving them the opportunity to experience it themselves. While there are many things, many social skills and etiquette lessons to teach our children, here are just a couple of things by age group that are important.

Pre-School Age (2-4) Learn to:

• Say “please” and “thank you” as a way to learn gratitude and patience.
• Share their things and take turns which teaches them to care about others and about self-control.

Elementary School Age (5-10) Learn to:

• Listen to others’ point of view to resolve conflict and give suggestions without being bossy. This will which teach them how to cooperate, work with others, and be a leader.
• Make friends by talking to new kids, including them, and showing interest and empathy.

Middle and High School Age (11-18) Learn to:

• Use social media wisely and teach them to not use it to hurt themselves or others.
• Shake hands and confidently greet and talk with others to make a good first impression and make friends.

To hear more about what you can do to help your children learn social skills, watch this WBTV News Segment from August, 2015 or go to www.FinesseWorldwide.com to learn about social skills programs for 5th – 8th graders in Huntersville, NC this fall. Contact me if yo have any questions or would like information about setting up a program for your school or group – aimee@finesseworldwide.com.