Social Skills
  • Unfortunately, poor communication and poor listening are common in many families these days. In order to improve both of these, families must focus on listening. Characteristics of good listening: Stop what you are doing, face the person, look in the person's eyes, nod or say you understand, check for understanding, don't give advice or lecture.
  • Being able to effectively problem-solve and not just react to their first impulses is an important skill children need to develop in order to deal with conflict at school or at home. The five steps that children and families can use to facilitate problem solving: what is the problem, what are some solutions, for each solution ask is it safe? Is it fair? How might people feel? Will it work? choose a solution and use it, is it working? If not what can I do now?