Social Skills

Kind Words, Big Impact: Teaching Respect and Empathy to 6-Year-Olds

By Siyona Varghese At the age of six, children are forming the emotional and social foundations that will guide them through school and life. This is a key time to introduce the values of respect and empathy—not just as abstract ideas, but as daily practices. Teaching children how to treat others with kindness, listen with […]

Understanding Cliques and Exclusion in Early Childhood

By Siyona Varghese In early childhood, particularly between ages 5 and 7, children begin to develop deeper social awareness. Friendships become more selective, and group dynamics start to take shape. During this time, it’s common for children to form tightly knit peer groups—what adults might describe as “cliques.” While the term often carries negative connotations, […]

Friendships and Feelings: The Social World of 6-Year-Olds

By Siyona Varghese At six years old, children step into a complex and vibrant world of social experiences. This is the age when friendships begin to hold real emotional significance. Play becomes more cooperative, peer relationships become more stable, and children start caring deeply about fairness, inclusion, and belonging. Their emotional development is closely tied […]

Playdates and Peer Pressure: Social Smarts for 5-Year-Olds

By Siyona Varghese At age five, children are stepping into a new world of friendships, playdates, and social dynamics. It’s an exciting time, but it can also be tricky. As they seek connection and approval from peers, they start experiencing early forms of peer pressure — the subtle (or sometimes not-so-subtle) push to act a […]

Little Leaders: Encouraging Social Confidence in 5-Year-Olds

By Siyona Varghese By the age of five, children begin to explore the world with a new sense of independence. They are eager to make friends, express their opinions, and take the lead during play. This is a critical window to nurture social confidence a key building block for future leadership, cooperation, and healthy relationships. […]

From Parallel Play to Real Friends: Social Growth in 4-Year-Olds

By Siyona Varghese At four years old, your child is stepping into one of the most exciting and heartwarming stages of early childhood real friendships. You may notice your little one starting to form preferences for certain playmates, expressing a desire for playdates, or even saying things like, “She’s my best friend.” These social milestones […]

Friendships in Preschool: How 4-Year-Olds Build Social Connections

By Siyona Varghese Friendships play a crucial role in a child’s early development, shaping their emotional, social, and cognitive growth. At the age of four, children begin to form meaningful relationships beyond their immediate family, learning valuable social skills like cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution. Understanding how preschoolers build social connections can help parents and […]

Teaching Empathy and Sharing: Social Skills Every 4-Year-Old Should Learn

By Siyona Varghese Social skills are essential for a child’s development, laying the foundation for positive relationships, communication, and emotional intelligence. Among the most important social skills for a 4-year-old to learn are empathy and sharing. These skills help children understand others’ emotions, develop kindness, and build cooperative relationships. By fostering empathy and encouraging sharing, […]

Sharing is Caring: Teaching Cooperation Skills to Three-Year-Olds

By Siyona Varghese At the age of three, children are beginning to understand the world around them in new ways. Their cognitive, social, and emotional development is rapidly progressing, and they start to make sense of relationships, rules, and the importance of working with others. One of the most essential skills a three-year-old can learn […]