Social Skills Training: 

Some children who do not behave appropriately simply have never been taught how to behave. They have difficulty developing friendships, meeting adult expectations and dealing with social problems appropriately. Teaching children social skills helps them develop good relationships with other children and adults. Research shows that social skills instruction should include the following steps:

• Identify the social skills that are needed to replace problem behavior. Decide which steps are necessary for performing the skill. Ask students to remember the steps of the social skill. For example, "Asking permission to leave your seat" may include:
  • raising your hand;
  • waiting to be recognized;
  • asking permission to be dismissed;
  • waiting for an answer; and
  • asking questions if you do not understand the answer.
• Model or show the students how to perform the skill. Watching other children use appropriate social skills and seeing them rewarded often leads to imitation of those skills.
• Practice: Allow the students to practice using the skill through role-play situations.
• Reinforce acceptable performance by letting students know how well they are performing the skills.

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