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With the holidays approaching, your child may have an opportunity to have social interactions with cousins or other family members. This is a great chance to work on social skills. Prepare your child with what to expect during the holidays and be clear on your expectations. Coach your child during the day if they are struggling with interacting with others and praise him/her for the interactions that were successful and offer tips for areas that need improvement. For example, letting your child know that Grandpa loves his hugs and to remember to say hello to their aunt.
Think about an activity that your child will feel comfortable playing and encourage cousins and other family members to join you. Perhaps you can organize a group to play a board game or organize a flag football game with relatives. If your child is uncomfortable playing a board game alone, then encourage team play with other relatives or with you to take the pressure off. If your child tends to shy away from others, perhaps encourage him/her to help with meal preparation or setting the table and let them know how important their role is. You could even look at old family photo albums together and talk about the events happening in the pictures. If your child craves physical activity, try to provide an opportunity for physical play before the holiday festivities begin.
Have a great story to share about Thanksgiving that you would like to share with others? We'd love to hear it! If we publicize your story, we promise not to use any of the real names so your identity will remain confidential. Contact us at info@socialsmartkids.com.
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