By Lexi Walters Wright - understood.org
If you bump into someone, you usually say “excuse me” or “I’m sorry.” When someone is speaking, you don’t cut them off to say something.
More than likely, you learned these unwritten social rules when you were very young and quickly understood when and how to follow them. But some kids just don’t pick up on social rules or cues. They need extra help learning them.
Here are five social rules that can be challenging for kids — and tips to help your child understand and follow them.
Social rule #1: Meet and greet politely.
This involves:
- Saying greetings, introductions, and goodbyes
- Politely offering and receiving compliments
- Being able to start and finish conversations
Social rule #2: Take turns talking.
This involves:
- Listening when others speak and looking them in the eye
- Not interrupting
- Responding appropriately and at the right time
Social rule #3: Pay attention to others.
This involves:
- Stopping what you’re doing so you can listen
- Reading people’s emotions through their body language and facial expressions
- Changing your behaviour to match what other people are doing, like quieting down with the rest of the room
Social rule #4: Think about others before acting.
This involves:
- No touching without asking
- No cutting in line
- Waiting your turn
- Standing a comfortable distance away when talking
Social rule #5: Cooperate with others.
This involves:
- Following directions when you’re asked to
- Asking for help when you need it
- Apologizing when necessary
- Being flexible and open to new ideas
How can you help your child follow social rules?
You can start by breaking down social rules in ways your child can understand and practice. Role-playing games are a good way to model behaviour and help your child practice responding to different social situations. You can also use your child’s favourite TV shows to focus on reading body language and other social cues.
Be sure to praise your child for successful social interactions, too. Giving positive and specific feedback can reinforce the behaviours you want your child to repeat. With practice and support, your child can get better at following social rules.