Early development of social skills is very important as it can make or break a child’s perspective socially. Thousands of documentation from research suggest that children with improper or inadequate social skills are more prone to issues such as peer pressure and rejection, bullying, and poor academic performance.
Early education social skills are described as the ability of children to move around within the social and learning dimensions and can be perceived as interpersonal skills. It is long recognised as one of the prime movers with regards to social adjustment from childhood to adulthood. So if you happen to enrol your child in a boarding school in Tianjin, it is encouraged that you should know factors that affect social skills development in early education.
Family Factor
Before school, the family is the most important factor in terms of early social skills development. Regardless of the type of family, children find and develop social skills through interaction and attachments with different members of the family. And their interactions with them are usually quite developed by the time they go to school. Countless articles have stated that kids who do not have well developed or strong attachment within the family or to another person tend to experience greater difficulties with adjusting to school environment. Some studies also reveal that children who experience care, security, and strong personal attachments are able to adjust well with new environments such as schools.
On the other end, parents who are also socially fit serve as role models for their kids. Children use images of their parents’ social interactions when they try to navigate around their own world and make friends with other kids. The way children are reared and raised is of great importance. For example, children raised in a democratic way are more open minded and socially active; whereas, those who are in rigid upbringing find difficulties in relating with other children and people
Culture and Environment
The environment and culture which the child is exposed to are also critical factors in early social skills development. When deciding on a Chinese boarding school, it is important that you take time to observe and study the community where the children live in order to help develop social skills and intervene when there is a need to do so. Here are some reasons why:
- Kids who are exposed in violent or unsafe environment can be fearful, insecure, and withdrawn, especially during classroom activities. These issues will interfere not only with their academic performance but with regards to their total development
- Studies also show that kids who suffer violence in their environment tend to seek relationships with caring adults, have their own sets of rules and limitations, and use arts, plays, and storytelling to express themselves.
- According to some studies, children who witness any form of violence develop certain apprehension, fears, doubts, and mistrust and with that, they seek release of emotions in several ways such as becoming irritable, withdrawn, and experiencing sleeping or eating disorders.
Teachers and school administrators must provide the appropriate environment so that children who have suffered, experienced, and participated in violence, or have been exposed to negative environments, can adjust better. As a parent enrolling a child in a Chinese boarding school, the guidelines above are just a baby step for early social skills development.
Maria Madrid has been looking at ways to help families who move to China. This begins with ensuring that their children are taken care of properly at school, taking a load off their mind.
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