Recognising difficulties with personal and social skills in a child can vary depending on their age, developmental stage, and individual characteristics. Here are some signs that may indicate delays in a child’s social development.
- Difficulty with Social Interactions: Your child may struggle to initiate or maintain conversations, have trouble taking turns in a conversation, or find it challenging to join group activities or play with peers.
- Limited Eye Contact and Body Language: Children with social skills difficulties may have difficulty maintaining eye contact, reading social cues from others, or understanding non-verbal communication, such as facial expressions and body language.
- Lack of Empathy or Understanding of Others' Perspectives: Your child may have difficulty recognising and understanding others' feelings, thoughts, or needs, leading to challenges in showing empathy or taking others' perspectives.
- Trouble Making and Maintaining Friendships: Children with social skills challenges may find it difficult to establish and sustain friendships. They may struggle with sharing, compromising, or understanding social boundaries, which can affect their ability to develop meaningful relationships with peers.
- Difficulty Managing Social Situations: Your child may have difficulty adapting to different social situations or understanding appropriate social behaviours. They may struggle with following social rules, taking feedback, or managing conflicts or disagreements.
- Limited Social Initiations: Children with social skills difficulties may have trouble initiating social interactions or may rely heavily on others to initiate conversations or activities.