What should I do if my child has poor interpersonal skills

Children's poor interpersonal communication skills can be improved through parent-child interactive games, social skills training, emotional management guidance, group activity participation, professional psychological intervention, and other methods. Insufficient interpersonal communication skills are usually related to factors such as family environment, personality traits, language development, inadequate imitation learning, psychological barriers, etc.

1. Parent child interactive games

Social scenarios can be simulated through role-playing games in daily life, such as shopping, medical treatment, etc., to help children understand dialogue rules. Collaborative games such as building blocks and puzzles can cultivate a sense of taking turns waiting and sharing. It is recommended that parents focus on accompanying their children for 15-20 minutes every day, avoid excessive dominance in games, and use questioning style guidance to encourage children to express their needs.

2. Social skills training

starts with basic etiquette and teaches nonverbal communication skills such as eye contact and smiling greetings. Using picture book stories to explain how to join peer games, handle disputes, and other specific scenarios. Social cards can be created to break down complex interactions into step-by-step exercises, such as observing first, asking later, and then participating. Parents should pay attention to demonstrating the correct way of refusal and apology.

3. Emotional Management Guidance

Help children name their emotional states with language, such as happy, angry, sad, etc., and enhance their recognition ability through emoji card games. When conflicts arise, guide the expression of feelings rather than direct behavioral reactions, gradually establishing an emotional expression vocabulary library. Parents are advised to maintain emotional stability, avoid intense arguments in front of their children, and provide a safe channel for emotional release.

4. Group Activity Participation

Regularly participate in structured group activities such as parent-child early education classes and children's sports groups, and initially choose small groups of 3-5 people to reduce stress. Non competitive activities such as outdoor chase games and music rhythms are easier to establish connections. Parents need to observe their children's interaction patterns, step back in a timely manner to give them autonomy, and avoid excessive protection or forced participation.

5. Professional psychological intervention

If there is persistent avoidance of eye contact, delayed language development, aggressive behavior, etc., it may be related to developmental problems such as autism spectrum disorder and selective mutism. Standardized assessments can be conducted in child psychology, and targeted improvements can be made through behavioral therapy, group therapy, and other methods. Sensory integration training is also helpful for social avoidance caused by tactile sensitivity.

Provide more opportunities to interact with peers in daily life, such as regularly playing at the community amusement park, inviting playmates to visit, etc. Ensure the intake of nuts, seafood, vitamins B, and other nerve nutrients rich in zinc and magnesium in diet, and avoid excessive consumption of sweets that can affect emotional stability. Establish a regular schedule to ensure adequate sleep, and engage in relaxing activities such as touch and massage before bedtime. Be careful not to criticize your child's social performance in public, and encourage them by describing specific progressive behaviors. If there is still no improvement after trying family intervention for 3-6 months, it is recommended to go to a child health department or developmental behavior clinic for professional evaluation.