6 Benefits of Social Skills for Friendship Building
What many people may not realize is that social skills, particularly communication skills, are the foundation of making and keeping friends.
Kids and teens who struggle with social skills, such as picking up on social cues, knowing how to have good conversations, and understanding the nuances of friendship, have a much harder time making and maintaining friendships. This leads to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and ultimately reduced feelings of belonging.
Teaching our pre-teens/teens foundational social skills can provide them with the tools they need to live rich social lives.
But don’t get me wrong here, a rich social life does not mean that our children have to have hundreds of friends.
We can absolutely live rich social lives with just a couple of friends. As long as we feel connected, respected, and valued, this can allow us to experience rich social lives where we feel like we belong within a group, no matter how small.
Here are six benefits of social skills and how they’re connected to developing meaningful and lasting friendships:
#1: ENHANCED COMMUNICATION
Effective communication and strong conversation skills are the foundation of every successful friendship. By improving their social skills, pre-teens/teens learn how to express themselves clearly and listen actively to others. They become better at understanding their friends' perspectives and can navigate conflicts with empathy and respect. This ultimately helps them to create better relationships and stronger connections with others.
#2: INCREASED EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING
Social skills help pre-teens/teens develop empathy—a super important skill needed to understand our own feelings and understand the feelings and perspectives of others. Empathetic kids have a greater awareness of their friends' emotions, which in turn helps to strengthen their relationships. They learn to offer support, provide comfort, and celebrate their friends' successes genuinely. This helps friendships to improve over time and become more meaningful to both people involved.
#3: BOOSTED SELF-CONFIDENCE
Confident pre-teens/teens are more likely to initiate conversations, join group activities, and reach out to new friends. Social skills build their confidence by giving them the tools they need in order to know how to interact in various social settings. When your child has confidence in themselves and their social skills, this can help them feel less anxious about social situations and stretch outside of their comfort zone. This can help them to start conversations and initiate friendships with others or further expand existing connections with peers.
#4: STRENGTHENED PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS
Friendships aren't always smooth sailing, and pre-teens/teens can encounter challenges like misunderstandings or disagreements. Social skills equip them with problem-solving abilities to navigate these situations constructively. They learn to compromise, negotiate, and find solutions that maintain their friendships.
#5: IMPROVED EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE
Building and maintaining friendships can be emotionally rewarding despite some challenges that may occur along the way. Socially skilled pre-teens/teens develop resilience — the ability to bounce back from setbacks or conflicts in friendships. They learn how to manage stress, cope with disappointments, and maintain a positive outlook on their social interactions.
#6: INCREASED FEELINGS OF BELONGING
When pre-teens/teens have strong social skills, they're less likely to feel left out. They more confidently participate in social activities, join group conversations, and feel more included in peer groups. This substantially increases their feelings of belonging, which boosts their self-esteem and confidence, in turn making them want to engage more with peers and maintain good friendships.
Why These Benefits Matter
By helping your child improve their social skills, you're empowering them with the tools they need to build friendships that are supportive, meaningful, and enriching.
Strong friendships provide emotional support, boost self-esteem, and contribute to overall happiness and well-being during teen years and throughout the rest of their lives.
When your child’s social skills improve, other areas of their life improve as well.
New found confidence, improved communication skills, and an increased feeling of belonging all ensure that your child thrives socially and has a chance at living a happy, fulfilling, and connected life!