6 Signs Your Teen Needs Help with Social Skills (and What You Can Do About It)
Is Your Teen Struggling Socially? Here’s How to Know If They Need Support
Friendships are a huge part of a teen’s life. But what if your child struggles to make and keep friends? As a parent, it can be tough to know when to step in and when to let things unfold naturally.
The truth is, some teens pick up social skills effortlessly, while others need more support. And if your child is neurodivergent—such as being autistic, having ADHD, or experiencing social anxiety—they might not intuitively understand the unwritten rules of social interaction.
So how do you know if your teen needs help with social skills? Below are six key signs that indicate they could benefit from structured support—plus what you can do to help them feel more confident in social situations.
1. They Struggle to Start or Maintain Conversations
Does your teen:
Give one-word answers and struggle to ask questions and share more information to keep conversations going?
Struggle to join group conversations or contribute meaningfully?
Dominate conversations and talk mostly about their interests, sometimes without realizing that others may have lost interest?
Being able to start, maintain, and end conversations smoothly is a core social skill. Some teens find it hard to know what to say to keep a conversation going, while others may not know how to balance talking and listening.
What You Can Do: Encourage casual conversations at home, model back-and-forth turn-taking, and consider The Social Skills Blueprint: Conversation Skills for Better Friendships digital course to really help your child learn the nuances of conversation so they can feel confident when talking to others.
2. They Have Difficulty Making or Keeping Friends
If your teen doesn’t have close friendships, it might not be because they don’t want friends—they just might not know how to build and maintain them.
Look for these signs:
They rarely get invited to hang out with peers.
They want to make friends but don’t know how to initiate or maintain relationships.
They struggle with unspoken friendship rules, like taking turns, giving others space, texting rules, or knowing how to make plans.
What You Can Do: Help your teen identify friendship-building strategies, such as finding common interests, practicing conversation starters, and developing skills for resolving conflicts. You can also consider structured programs like the PEERS® social skills group, which teaches friendship skills.
3. They Misinterpret Social Cues (or Struggle to Pick Them Up at All)
Body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions all give important clues about what someone is thinking or feeling. If your teen has difficulty interpreting these signals, they might:
Miss sarcasm or jokes and either take things literally or misunderstand intentions.
Not realize when someone is bored or wants to change the subject.
Stand too close, interrupt frequently, or have trouble recognizing when to give others a chance to talk.
What You Can Do: Watch TV shows or YouTube clips together and pause to discuss how characters express emotions. “What do you think they’re feeling?” “How can you tell?” This helps teens practice recognizing social cues in a low-pressure setting.
4. They Feel Anxious or Avoid Social Situations
Some teens naturally prefer alone time, but if your child consistently avoids social interactions because they feel uncomfortable, uncertain, or anxious, it may be a sign they need support.
Warning signs include:
They decline invitations and avoid group activities.
They seem anxious before social events or want to leave as soon as they get there.
They prefer spending all their free time alone or only with family.
What You Can Do: Encourage small, low-pressure social opportunities, like inviting one friend over instead of pushing for large gatherings. If social anxiety is a concern, structured social skills groups provide a safe space to practice interactions with peers who face similar challenges.
5. They Have Trouble Resolving Conflicts or Handling Rejection
Every teen faces disagreements with friends, but if your child struggles with conflict resolution, you may notice:
They get upset over minor misunderstandings.
They don’t know how to apologize or repair a friendship after an argument.
They become overly distressed when excluded or rejected.
What You Can Do: Help your teen build emotional resilience by teaching them coping strategies for handling rejection and practical steps for resolving conflicts. Role-playing can be a great way to practice problem-solving skills before real-life situations arise.
6. They Struggle with Group Dynamics and Teamwork
School, clubs, and future jobs all require teamwork. If your teen struggles in group settings, they may:
Have difficulty collaborating on projects or sharing responsibilities.
Feel left out or struggle to integrate into peer groups.
Get frustrated when things don’t go their way or when they must compromise, or they may struggle to compromise at all.
What You Can Do: Encourage structured group activities like team sports, board games, or volunteer work where they can practice cooperation in a supportive setting. Social skills groups, like the PEERS® program can also teach specific teamwork strategies.
How to Help Your Teen Build Social Confidence
If your teen shows signs of social struggles, the good news is that social skills can be learned—just like any other life skill.
📌 Fast Facts About Social Skills Support:
✔ Many teens struggle with social skills, and they’re not alone.
✔ Learning social skills doesn’t mean changing who they are—it’s about gaining tools they can use to feel more confident and comfortable in social interactions.
✔ Social success isn’t about having tons of friends—it’s about having meaningful connections.
One of the most effective ways to support your teen is through structured, research-backed programs like PEERS®, which provide:
Step-by-step guidance on making and keeping friends
Real-life practice opportunities with peers
Parent involvement to reinforce skills at home
Help your teen build the social confidence they need to make real friends, join conversations with ease, and feel comfortable in social situations! Learn more about my PEERS® social skills program and give your child the tools to navigate friendships and social interactions with confidence. Click here to take the next step.
If you have questions or want to chat about whether this is the right fit, I’m always happy to connect! 😊