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Chapter 11
Social Skills
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Attachment is the primary factor in developing social skills for children. Trust is built when
children’s needs are met consistently. Security building by showing respect for children’s
uniqueness
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Provide Guidance for security and responsive care and provide the control that infants lack.
Setting limits and expectations. Teach alternative ways to express feelings and identify origins of
behavior.
Observe child-> analyze behavior -> message behind behavior -> environmental cues that trigger
behavior ->adult behavior that triggers behavior ->child’s expression of feelings.
“MODEL THE BEHAVIOR YOU WANT TO TEACH”
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Erikson’s Psychosocial stages of development:
1) Trust vs. mistrust ( 0-1 year)= if needs are met they trust, if ignored they mistrust. Develops
coping mechanisms during separation from caregiver. It is important to acknowledge child’s
feelings and label those feelings as caregiver offers support. Acknowledge parent’s separation
feelings and be sensitive. Encourage communication, be compassionate and supportive.
2) Autonomy vs. shame and doubt (1-3 years)= learn to become independent, or doubting their
abilities and feeling shame. Child learns self-help skills and becomes defiant ( says NO as you say
Yes). Children express themselves different at home than in school.
3) Initiative vs. guilt ( 3-6 years)= trying new things and exploring, or feel guilty as they get in
trouble for overstepping boundaries. Create, invent, explore.
4) Industry vs. Inferiority ( 6-11 years)= Success leads to a sense of competence, while failure
results in feelings of inferiority.
5) Identity vs. Role confusion ( 12-18 years)= develop a sense of self and personal identity, or
failure leads to role confusion and a weak sense of self.
6) Intimacy vs. isolation ( 19 to 40)= form intimate, loving relationships with other people, or
failure resulting in loneliness and isolation.
7) Generativity vs. stagnation (40 to 65 years)= feelings of usefulness and accomplishment,
while failure results in shallow involvement in the world.
8) Ego integrity vs. despair ( 65 years and up)= feelings of wisdom, or failure results in regret,
bitterness, and despair.
What can caregivers teach children to develop social skills?
conflict resolution
kindness
forgiveness
sensitivity
caring for others.
Social skills development
child seeks out adults for play
smiles or vocalizes to initiate social contact
anticipates being lifted or fed
enjoys exploring objects with another adult
interacts with others
shows interest in peers
identifies self with children of the same age or sex
exhibits impulse control and self-regulation
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Promoting social skills:
1.- Create an environment with a consistent daily routine. Use pictures to label areas.
2.- Encourage and welcome child’s contributions to share, care for, and help each other.
3.- Model the behaviors for the children.
4.- Create cooperative activities.
5.- Develop a sense of community. Be kind to each other.
6.- Pay attention to any child who is constantly picked on or rejected, as well as to the children that
are always showing challenging behaviors.
7.- Teach conflict resolution by encouraging children to talk to each other, to get to a conclusion,
and praise their efforts.