Children and teenagers today have never known a world without the internet. They are constantly connected to real and virtual friends through social media, online games, a plethora of chat apps, email, and other means. However, making friends is both harder and easier now than it was when we were younger.
Making friends has taken on new meanings for our children because of social isolation, mask-wearing, social distancing, and school and childcare closures.
Friendship: A Major Contributor to a Child’s Development
Nobody can deny the importance of friendships for our children, and we do not need an expert to tell us that socialising with friends is beneficial.
A good friend is the best person to play games with, talk about common interests with, and share feelings.
Friendships are critical to our children’s development, according to research from the University of Florida. Nobody can deny the importance of friendships for our children, and we do not need an expert to tell us that socialising with friends is beneficial.
This drastic change has most likely worried us as parents. We all want our children to be happy, and we all understand that childhood should be shared with others. Our children’s well-being depends on their ability to socialise. We see how our children suffer when they are separated from their friends, and we all want to ensure that their childhoods are as normal, stress-free, and enjoyable as possible.
Friendships instill vital social skills such as cooperation, active listening, and problem-solving. Friendships may even assist children in achieving academic success.
Friendships are not always sunshine and rainbows, though. Children who are bullied, ridiculed, or placed in emotionally or physically dangerous situations because of peer interactions suffer. However, these are the exception rather than the rule, and our children’s development must allow them to explore various types of friendships as freely as possible during their childhood.
Ways to Help Your Kids Make Friends
- Some kids enjoy chatting with their friends via video chat. Other children, on the other hand, find it easier to engage in an activity. Set out some paper and crayons for your child and their friend to colour together. Assist your child in moving the camera around so that they can show off their toys or play hide-and-seek.
- Movie with friends: Many video platforms, including Netflix, allow you to stream videos with others while simultaneously conversing about what you are watching.
Zoom also supports screen sharing, which involves one party logging into a movie streaming service and then using the screen sharing option to live stream the video. Pop some popcorn and snuggle up with a friend to watch a movie.
- During the study-from-home setting, children can connect with their peers by playing outside, which is a low-risk activity. Mask-wearing and social separation, on the other hand, must be observed to keep things secure.
That is why participating in a group activity like a scavenger hunt, an exercise or dancing activity, or any other childhood pleasure is a fantastic option. This allows you to keep an eye on your kids and ensure that they keep their distance and make safe decisions while playing.
- Do not forget about the rest of the family. It is also crucial for children to maintain relationships with cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Organized activities, such as game night, function best in this situation. While playing an online video game or another game, you can screen share with family members.
- Is your child friends with someone who lives across the street — or within easy driving distance? Take turns painting pictures for each other and hanging them in the window, then go for a family walk or drive to see what is new in the art world.
- Indulge with your kids in seasonal delicacies that are not too difficult to make as summer ends, such as popsicles, watermelon slush, smoothies, fruit pizza, pumpkin muffins, or apple slices with caramel.
Let us not forget
We live in extraordinary times, and we are naturally concerned about our children’s capacity to develop and maintain friendships.
We parents should do everything we can to help our children maintain social relationships. However, we must recognise that most youngsters have adapted admirably to their circumstances and have discovered new and gratifying ways to socialise.
Also published on Medium.