How to Help Teens With Social Deficiencies

Having a healthy relationship with your teenager can have a direct and beneficial effect on his social development, according to authors of an article published in ̶0;Child Trends Research Brief,̶1; published by U.S. Health and Human Services. If you notice that your teen has social deficiencies, provide assistance to enable your teen to connect and interact positively and respectfully with other people.

Instructions

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      Talk about the importance of interacting with others positively, suggest Suzy Johns and Jacquelin Patrick who are authors of ̶0;Why Teach Social Skills?̶1; This is a presentation that was published by the MODEL Program website. Mention skills such as cooperating with others, expressing anger appropriately, listening attentively and following instructions.

    • 2

      Model strong social skills for your teenager. Engage in small talk with people so your child can learn about appropriate banter. Demonstrate conflict resolution by listening respectfully, expressing your feelings calmly and compromising when necessary.

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      Discuss how to appropriately express anger and manage strong emotions. James Windell, author of "Teaching Social Skills to your Teen - 6 Steps to an Emotionally Intelligent Teenager," suggests using the "stop and think" method. When your teen learns to notice an angry moment, asks herself why she's angry and then thinks about appropriate ways to express herself and resolve the situation, she is using effective anger management skills.

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      Provide your teenager with opportunities to develop and practice social skills, suggests the University of Memphis. Participating in organized sports, youth groups, organized scouting and school clubs can help your teen gain experience interacting positively with others. If your child has specific interests or abilities, choose activities that align with them so there is a better chance he will connect well with the other people involved.

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      Engage in role-playing activities. A teenager may respond positively to this kind of instruction, according to Christine D. Bremer and John Smith, writing for the National Center on Secondary Education and Transition website. Make a stronger connection with your teenager by focusing on humorous social errors and then role-play more appropriate social interactions.

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      Observe your teenager̵7;s interaction with others whenever possible. When you see positive interaction and effective use of social skills, praise his efforts and successes to reinforce the desired behavior. If you see areas where he might improve, offer suggestions for how he should try to interact next time.

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