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How to Meet Friends and Play Games for Kids

Teaching children healthy social interaction skills helps them communicate effectively with peers when alone in a youth environment. Practice listening and convey feelings in a non-threatening manner. Suggest games that allow for multiple winners and host play dates at your home to monitor safe, balanced interactions. According to Family Fun, knowledgeable parents stated that "taking a deep interest in their kids' social lives led to notable improvements in their home lives, as well."

Be Approachable
- Make new friends quickly by stopping to take a moment and smile at potential acquaintances. Ensure unsuspecting individuals feel comfortable approaching you or pausing to interact with you by flashing a welcoming glance their way in passing. Start conversations off lightly, utilizing the visual details of your immediate environment to spark an ongoing dialogue. ShyKids.com suggests saying something nice that you like about the person to help her feel appreciated and let her know you're interested in getting to know her better.
Everybody Wins
- Parents that wish to personally assist their children in learning how to build new friendships should host play dates at their homes. Retain loose control over various situations by being within hearing range and making yourself available to moderate as needed. Act as referee and suggest that game play continue until all kids have won in some aspect of a round. Relax on traditional game rules and focus on the primary benefit being that children learn how to win and lose gracefully as well as be happy for peers that win.
Helpful Skills
- Practice everyday skills at home with your child and help him feel comfortable when alone in a youth environment. Starting up a conversation feels effortless when a child feels confident in his ability to communicate. Encourage him to suggest discussion topics at the dinner table that sound interesting to him. Pay attention to his emotional shifts and address feelings as necessary. Seize opportunities to explain that feelings alone need not dictate the entire dynamic of a relationship. Allow him to express himself and then re-direct attention to a different family member. Give and take is an important element in all interpersonal dynamics.
Effective Parental Assistance
- Parental assistance enables children to feel comfortable when initiating interactions and friendships with new people. Create a home environment that is inviting and relaxing for kids. Identify particular areas in the house that are open to curious tweens and teens' exploration. Turn garage space or an outdoor area into a recreation room with video games, a television, ping pong or billiards table. Have plentiful seating so teens feel safe sticking around on a Friday night and having private conversations. Welcome kids into your home then try to give the group age-appropriate privacy and space to ensure that new friends return.

Kids Games