Families develop their own micro culture. This culture is a mixture of the morals, values and practices the family has. Families tend to hold similar beliefs and one generation typically influences the next on important topics. As parents, if your typical idea of a great Friday night is to stay home and order pizza, that will likely become the standard for your entire family.
Families who embrace a healthy social life produce well-adjusted children who are comfortable being social and enjoy engaging outside of their family for fun. As a parent, your influence makes a big difference on how much and how comfortable your family is being social.
Being social starts young
Being social and having great social skills starts young. Taking your children with you when you shop, eat out, and do things in the community helps them see being in the car, engaging with others, and being on the go as common. The better your attitude about taking children out and about, the easier it is for everyone.
Being social includes extracurricular activities
Families who enroll their children in extracurricular activities make it possible for their children to learn directly and passively how to be social. Teachers, coaches, peers, and other adults all have an influence and impact on the social lives of children- both positively and negatively. Nonetheless, being part of a group setting helps children learn to be better listeners, teammates, and community members.
Being social includes cutting the cord
It can be hard, but part of fostering strong social ties includes allowing children to participate in social activities on their own. Age-appropriate activities for children help them develop socially and experience their own preferences whether that be group settings of more one-to-one experiences. Sometimes well-meaning parents can stifle a child’s social growth by hovering or not allowing their children to explore socially.
Being social includes others
Encouraging your children to develop friendships and helping them have access to their friends in and out of your home matters. Encouraging friendship as a primary support helps your child develop healthy ties to people outside of their family. This is vital when children leave home as young adults.
Creating strong social ties is an important part of raising a child. Being a model for healthy social activity and encouraging your children to be active and social helps them get along well and do better throughout life. Help your children be social and encourage them to enjoy a healthy social life.
