Making friends can be difficult for children, particularly when a child has underdeveloped social-emotional skills. This is not uncommon when 10-15% of children are thought to have behavioral and emotional difficulties such as ADD, ADHD, autism, and anxiety. If these skills have not properly developed by the time a child enters school, he or she may experience difficulties dealing with negative emotions.

Parents can help their children to develop these skills by using role-play scenarios. One way to do this is to set up a scene in a play area such as a sandbox, tree house, or playhouse and encourage communication between children. Play-based learning is essential for developing skills such as empathy and teamwork. When children struggle to understand the consequences of their words and actions, parents are encouraged to be patient and remain positive.

Read the full article here: Making friends is hard work