News, Advice, and Tips for Parenting Teenagers

Social skills are critically important to teenagers' positive interactions at school, at work, and at home. With younger kids, social gaffs are not always noticeable, or are overlooked. But after about the age of 10 or 11 the lack of table manners, or an inability to make introductions, or not able to stand in lines can make a teen stand out. Your child might just be bullheaded and refusing (as teens are wont to do!) to utilize the skills they have. However, if your child is autistic, has Asperger's, or suffers from a non-verbal learning disorder, they may need extra help. Practice social skills at home in anticipation of upcoming events and activities. Remind your teen that appropriate social skills will help them to fit in and to be thought of as a smart/kind/good kid. Learn to write social stories that you can write about different social situations - conversations, personal space, non verbal language, etc. - and review them whenever it's appropriate. Improvements in your teenager's social skills will help build their self esteem and help them interact with peers and adults.

Posted By: Lori S