Why Are Parents Such a Powerful Agent of Socialization?

Create Lasting Relationships

• When you build a family, you create an environment where kids can establish relationships with you and their siblings. David Popenoe, Ph.D., professor of sociology at Rutgers University, notes that within the family children can form emotional attachments, adopt pro-social skills, learn character and morality, and learn to respect authority and comply with rules. Your family belongs to a particular social class or race, aspects that could influence your kids̵7; sense of self-identity and determine their social interactions. Maintain a good relationship with your partner to help your kids learn the importance of creating lasting relationships.

Adopt a Consistent Parenting Style

• Your parenting styles or discipline techniques can influence your children's social behavior. Parents who use forceful measures to enforce proper behavior or are uninvolved in their kids̵7; welfare often raise children who are withdrawn and unhappy, according to Dorothy Holin Sailor, author of "Supporting Children in Their Home, School, and Community," as excerpted on Education.com. Unhappy kids can find it difficult to socialize. You have to be loving and ready to enforce appropriate disciplinary measures to raise children who are independent and confident of leading a socially fulfilling life. Be consistent in your parenting approach and take time to understand the social needs of each of your children.

Model Desired Behavior

• When kids are young, they spend a lot of time with their parents and can learn from their personalities. Parental influence is a powerful force, which can be used to shape kids' social development. The way things function in your home, and how you conduct yourself in the presence of your kids, can affect their social behavior. For example, regular fights with your partner can adversely affect your kids' social development. The Alabama Coalition Against Domestic Violence identifies isolation from friends and relatives, stormy relationships, difficulty in trusting, especially adults, and poor anger management and problem solving skills as some of the consequences of domestic violence on children's social behaviors. Be what you want your kids to grow into.

Boost Social and Communication Skills

• Parents have a legal responsibility to educate their children. When you send your kids to school, they get an opportunity to put their social skills to work. Besides meeting new people from diverse backgrounds, the education they receive can help improve their social skills. Candy Lawson, Ph.D., who writes for the Center for Development and Learning, asserts that school nurtures children's communication skills and enhances their language, making it easy for them to put their ideas into words and express feelings to others. Teach social skills by modeling, role-playing and providing opportunities for your kids to practice new skills.