Social-LEE with it (by Rebecca LEE)

Lately I’ve been thinking about normal social interaction, and how it’s so important to “teach” your kids social skills so that they survive out there!

Good social skills can get you through pretty much anything: A job interview, a college admission, getting out of a parking ticket, etc. But, how do we teach it? I believe that some people are born with the foundation for good social skills and some people need to work hard at it. However, both are do-able and both work well. So, here are my tips. Read at your own risk. I’m not an expert, I just play one on t.v.

1) Teach your kid to talk to strangers. The old saying “don’t talk to strangers” must have been created by a hermit. It is totally OKAY to talk to strangers as long as you are not taking them up on their candy offer. Teach them to say hello to everyone: to the cashier at Shop Right, to the garbage man, the mail man, to the lady that mops the floors at school, etc. There is nothing wrong with extending a friendly “hello” to anyone who’s willing to listen. Not only does it teach your kid to come out of their shell, but it makes the person on the other side feel recognized and appreciated.

2) Teach them the concept of “ know your audience”. Don’t talk about trains for an hour to a person who is not remotely interested in trains. Polite people will listen, but you’ll quite possibly be ruining their day.

3) Force them out of their comfort zone. My grandma used to make me SING at every large family occasion we had. She threatened that if I didn’t sing, something terrible would happen to her health. So, I obliged. I am thankful for it now because I do not have a fear of being in front of a large audience. So, no matter how uncomfortable they are, (as long as it doesn’t cause them any pain, make them do it!)

4) Teach them to lie. Not about big things, of course. And never to you, of course ;-). But- sometimes a lie is good, and most definitely necessary. For all the socially ept people out there, no explanation necessary here!

I hope you enjoyed this blog. And if you didn’t, tell me you did anyway. #lietome