Socializing in the digital era is still an important and increasingly forgotten art. Children of all ages are working hard to increase their social skills, and as parents it is far too easy to forget that they are still learning. We still remember how to correct our tones, adjust our body language, and communicate our feelings on the occasions we need to, even as they occur less often. We don’t necessarily remember when we learned how to do that. We learned how to communicate with other people by interacting face-to-face over time. When schools and extracurriculars are shut down, our children lose the opportunity to learn social skills the way we did. Not only that, lack of socialization and human interaction are huge drivers in creating feelings of loneliness and dread.
No man is an island, and this is true even during a pandemic when it may seem necessary to function more independently. This is counterintuitive; increased isolation during an illness increases recovery time as the mind becomes less able to focus and aid the body in staying strong. Keeping up with friends is an important component in strong mental health which assists the immune system. What about our youngest children who haven’t yet made many friends? What about our children who have just moved into a new area, or are shy and need help making friends? Many of our children have friends but are unsure of how to keep in contact with them while being safe, and others may be a bit older and need to learn professional social skills.
In today’s world, it is more common to send a text or email than it is to drop by to see someone. This was true even before our current situation, and the consequences are still important. There is much more value in speaking to someone in real time than in impersonal and delayed written conversations. With the challenges we have been dealt in 2020, we cannot underestimate the value of hearing another person’s voice or seeing their expression. When in-person communication must be interrupted, we must come as close to it as we can.
Luckily, we also have seen great technological advancements that help us navigate a socially distanced culture. Through FaceTime, Skype, Zoom, or Google Meet calls we can be isolated but not alone. Taking technological breaks becomes more important, but if in-person interaction is unavailable, we should strive for the next best thing.
In order to avoid wasting large amounts of time online, there are a wide variety of things we can do to supplement children’s education while they navigate the changing world around them. Giving our children opportunities to socialize whenever they can is undoubtedly the most important thing we can do during this unprecedented culture shift.
We only encourage you to choose activities you feel comfortable with your child participating in. Some families are okay with large groups of people, others prefer only 1-2 people, and others still may prefer virtual socialization only; but we do urge everyone to ush past their comfort zone and try to expand the boundaries of what they’ve experienced lately, in order to make those personal connections that are so vitally important.
Simple Opportunities to Help Your Child Practice Social Skills
Asking for Assistance
Let your child do the talking to cashiers, waitresses, officers, etc.
Making Plans
Help your child plan out a party they would like to have when it feels safe enough to do so, then when that time comes, have the party!
Relaying Information
Let your child make phone calls or draft emails when appropriate.
Public Speaking
Have your child prepare a "public" presentation in which they report their birthday list, the chores they've done for the week, or a recent movie review.
Enrolling in Classes
There are many classes offered locally that are operating under covid-safe guidelines. There are also subjects that an older sibling or neighbor could help teach to younger kids. The best way to approach this opportunity is to identify a subject or hobby your child is interested in and then to decide the best way to explore it. Classes with groups around your child’s age group would be beneficial for learning how to interact with adults as well as meeting other children who are potential friends with similar interests.
- Art, Pottery, Painting Class
- Cooking Class
- Swimming Lessons
- Music Lessons
- Singing Lessons
- Book Club
- Local Youth Group
- Fitness Club
- Science Fair
- Art Fair
- History Fair
- Trivia Night
- Game Night
Joining or Starting a Club
Many clubs are operating safely in person or virtually. There is also an opportunity to create your own club if you can’t find one you like already existing. Creating a club will create an opportunity for your child to practice reaching out, inviting people, planning meeting points, and involving themselves in the community. Joining a club will allow your child to meet people, identify common interests, practice time management, and practice general interactions with others. If you and your child can identify a safe group of people to gather with, perhaps creating a group that meets weekly or monthly will be a great option. This group can meet to either accomplish goals together or to discuss the goals they all achieved individually over the time apart. The key is to pick a subject that does not require a large amount of computer time to prepare; spend the time trying to increase the personal interactions.
Sharing Expertise with Others
Sometimes, your child already knows something really well and it would be a shame to keep all of their talent away from the world. There are many opportunities to share their expertise and talent so they can shine and help others, too.
- Tutoring
- Beginning a Small Business
- Local Volunteering Opportunities
Is your child having trouble communicating to others?
Does your child clam up during social interactions?
Could your child be displaying perceived symptoms of social anxiety disorder?
Talk to Cameron Pediatric Counseling at 540-550-8083 to discuss scheduling an appointment and visit our website to learn more about how we can help you and your family.
