7 Ways the Teacher Can Help Your Child Make Friends.

If your child misinterprets or ignores social signs, he may have difficulty developing friends. Your child's teacher may be a great resource in this regard. Here are several ways in which the teacher can assist.

1. Convey your approval.

Simply demonstrating that she enjoys being around your child is one method the teacher might aid in his social advancement. 

That doesn't imply you should treat your child like a "pet" in class. 

Instead, the teacher might interact with your child in front of others, such as laughing and conversing.

2. Give your child responsibilities.

The teacher can give your child leadership opportunities and coveted responsibilities. If the kids are always vying for the opportunity to hand out snacks on Fridays, you could ask the teacher to put your child in charge of this and have him pick a few kids to help.

 3. Use sharing activities.

Teachers can provide opportunities for kids to discuss their interests and opinions in class with sharing activities. For example: “Turn and tell your neighbor two things you liked about the main character” or “Find someone else in the class who would’ve been willing to move west during the gold rush.”

4. Pair kids up strategically.

The teacher can foster friendships with study groups and buddy systems, pairing your child with another student who shares his interests (rather than pairing kids by academic skills).

5. Create a social skills group.

Some teachers are trained in social skills and will lead “lunch bunches.” These lunchtime sessions are informal chats with a small group of students about social issues. A social worker or guidance counselor might lead these discussions, too. The chats can help children practice responding to things like feeling isolated during an activity or being bullied.

6. Emphasize the positive.

Teachers can recognize and reward behaviors that they want to see more of in the classroom, as well as those that promote a healthy environment. This system of rewards demonstrates to children that acceptable behavior is valued and rewarded. It can also help a rule-breaking child feel less like an outcast if no one in the group suffers as a result of his actions.

7. Establish a classroom culture.

Setting goals for how the classroom will feel and function is critical to assisting all kids in feeling like they "belong." Setting guidelines for when things don't go as planned for the group or amongst individuals will help students develop a community and create a common vocabulary for holding each other accountable and supporting one another.. A strong classroom community allows for individual differences and celebrates what makes each kid unique.