There are certain processes and influences that a child experiences to prepare him or her for preschool. Then, there are steps that a child goes through during their school life that prepares them for graduation and college. The former is influenced by their home life, parents, immediate and extended family. The latter is prepared not only on these factors mentioned but also the school they attend. When a child arrives on their first day of preschool, they already come with information impressed on them from home, yet are at the same time receptive and open to information that is about to infiltrate them at preschool.
It has been suggested that when a child is having difficulty with learning a new skill or is having a hard time paying attention in school the child may also experience challenges with their social skills. The fact that this can show up as early as preschool however means that it can be spotted early enough so that the parent and teacher can help the child cope better socially and academically. This is important because it helps the child grasp the social skills they need which in turn helps their academic performance and keeps them motivated.
According to a survey conducted, which spanned more than 20 years and had responses from over 8,000 teachers, there are 10 valuable social skills that every student will need in order to succeed socially and academically.
- Listen to others – this is one of the most important skills to learn
- Follow the steps when given instructions – these are steps that show the child has engaged with the person and the world
- Taking turns when playing games, asking questions – this shows respect and self- control of the child
- Following rules, meaning being able to be subordinate in a hierarchy, which goes hand in hand with attentive listening
- Ignoring distractions, the child is able to concentrate on what is most important at the time, where the opposite denotes to ADHD
- Asking for help, which builds confidence and helps her acknowledge her imperfections
- Getting along with others, cooperation and team-work is most important here
- Staying calm with those around them, so that the child has self-control and coping mechanisms to react appropriately
- Personal responsibility – for a child to take personal responsibility for their behavior, acknowledging bad behavior and apologizing when necessary
- Doing nice things for others will instill a sense of good pride and fulfillment in the child.
These are all important skills that a child needs help in mastering in order to not only flourish socially but also academically.