Unlocking Social Skills for Children: The Power of Play Revealed

Social skills are abilities learned over time that allow us to collaborate and relate to each other more effectively. When you have well-developed social skills, you have more and better relationships, advancing career prospects, increased overall happiness, and more (see Skills You Need).

The link I included above provides info for adults to improve their social skills…but did you know kids do it through PLAY? Yes, by playing! So when you were out playing Tag, or Kick the Can, or Running Bases (showing my age here), you were learning amazing skills to be a successful human!

The social skills developed through play are amazing. I’ve included several lists you can check out below, but my favorite compilation comes from Empowered Parents. Through play, children learn many social skills such as:

• collaborating with others
• playing with others with a common goal
• negotiating
• learning to follow rules
• thinking of others and seeing their perspectives
• solving conflicts fairly and independently
• asserting themselves
• following another’s lead
• showing sympathy and empathy
• communicating effectively

Pretty fantastic life-winning skills you can learn while having fun, right? Sounds like a good reason to encourage your kids to head out and play some TV Tag…

More info on social skills and play:

4 Social Skills Children Develop Through Play, Your Teacher’s Pet Creature

Supporting Social Play: Helping Children Learn Social Skills from Play, The Genius of Play

The Importance of Play in Social Skills Development, Advanced Psychology Services