Why Your Child Needs Social-Skills Training
Human beings are social creatures. Since the beginning of time, relationships and interpersonal interactions have been the foundation for social health and happiness. Kids generally fall on a continuum of social competence. Kids at one end of the scale seem to be gifted with relational and interpersonal skills; others at the opposite end of the scale have a noticeable deficit of relational abilities. However, the majority of kids fall in the middle range.
Have no fear; social aptitude, like any other skill, can be studied, practiced, and improved upon. If your child is lacking in the social-skills department, she can be coached to develop stronger and more appropriate skills. It is an effort well worth making if it helps your child social skills and assertiveness training navigate through her world with more competence and confidence. Studies have linked social competence with better academic achievement, stronger friendships, and higher self-esteem. And in later years, social competence can increase career and marital success. It is a win-win situation.
Does your child have nonverbal learning disability (NLD)?
Kids with NLD (among other things) have trouble processing nonverbal information (such as facial expressions, tone of voice, and overall body language). They hear the actual words that are being said, but miss the nuances and subtleties of nonverbal communication. With over 90 percent of communication conveyed nonverbally, this can pose a serious social barrier for your child.
