Beirut - Many children face numerous problems in socializing due to their constant immersion in the virtual world through screens and mobile phones. Parents often seek to learn how to test their children's social intelligence and develop related skills early on, given the importance of this and its positive impact on various stages of their lives later in life.
Behavioral psychologist Jana Baraka believes that social intelligence plays a fundamental role in shaping a child's personality and encouraging them to build strong, close relationships with those around them, avoiding psychological problems or academic failure.
According to the same speaker, social intelligence also contributes to the formation of a socially, emotionally, and psychologically sound personality, one that enables its owner to interact with others, be influenced by them, and be influenced by them.
She points out that there is a difference between social intelligence and emotional intelligence, explaining that the former is a child's ability to interact with others, form friendships easily, and choose words wisely to build strong relationships with others. The latter is the ability to control one's emotions and reactions when interacting with others.
Ways to help develop social intelligence
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, Baraka mentioned some effective methods that help develop a child’s social intelligence, including:
- Participate in social activities organized inside or outside the school, and encourage him to be an active and influential member of them.
- Developing social intelligence by encouraging your child to take on some household chores and assume leadership roles, and by assigning them the responsibility of arranging and preparing simple meals. This means training them in leadership, planning, and motivating others.
- Refining a child's personality by developing social skills, such as the ability to speak politely with others, communicate effectively with peers and teachers, and integrate into society. This allows them to begin to explore different viewpoints and ideas and not fear confronting others.
- Developing social intelligence by giving him complete freedom to express his feelings, away from fear or anxiety, while showing empathy for others.
- Encourage your child to participate in volunteer work, such as cleaning beaches, parks, and schools. Volunteering in such activities is very important for shaping their personalities.
- Train your child to make friends so he appears likeable and popular with his peers. Always talk to him about the value of friendship and give him the opportunity to play and spend time with other children. He should also learn how to overcome any problems that may arise in this relationship.
- Developing a child's social intelligence leads to developing his talents, as it makes him discover them day after day.
- Teaching him negotiation skills, conflict resolution and dealing with others.
- Teach him the language of apology, as it is an extremely useful skill that is not widely practiced in our culture. Children need to understand that human relationships involve conflicts and should be handled appropriately. He should not be forced to offer an apology when it is not appropriate, and we should be sure to be role models for him in this regard. If we never apologize to him, he will never apologize.
Exchange skills with peers
According to Baraka, it is very important for the child to teach and learn from others through the activities in which he participates, and to leave the opportunity for the rest of the children to demonstrate their skills or the special things they have mastered or can teach others.
Perhaps someone knows numbers in a foreign language, a country's currency, how to hang laundry, or how to place cups in a nice way, and they would like to teach that to others or share those skills with their peers.
You can make colorful cards with your child that list everything they have taught others or learned during certain activities.
Social intelligence traits
According to the Learning Liftoff website , there are 4 characteristics of social intelligence, which are:
- The ability to empathize with others and accept different points of view, even if ideas and orientations differ.
- Learn respect, and this starts with the parents being role models for the child.
- Changing behavior and knowing appropriate behavior in social situations.
- Influencing others and being able to interact with them without stress or anxiety.
Social intelligence is an acquired skill.
The website reported that schools, at various levels, play a significant role in shaping a child's personality and developing social intelligence through interaction with friends and problem-solving skills. This enables children to face all conflicts, challenges, and obstacles with complete confidence and without hesitation, while taking full responsibility for their behavior.
Social intelligence is an acquired skill that a child can practice by reflecting on his or her behavior with others and by building deep human relationships.
However, children acquire emotional and social intelligence through their parents' upbringing and the situations and experiences they go through, as each child possesses unique characteristics that distinguish them from others.
Parents should encourage their children to talk about what's on their mind without fear or restriction, to develop their emotional intelligence. Parents should also encourage their children to solve their personal problems on their own, whether at school or with their friends. Parents should also seek their opinion on family problems and how to find ways to resolve them.
It can be said that the different life circumstances of parents and children give each person their own unique characteristics. Social intelligence is an acquired trait that is not inherited, but rather comes from life experiences and the situations one goes through.
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