How to Nurture Social Emotional Development in Isolation
With practice and patience, parents of children with ADHD can promote their social emotional development — even while social distancing — and help them gain confidence that endures in the “real” world.
In many states and families, isolation is essential during this pandemic. But is necessary social distancing creating a social-emotional crisis for children with ADHD who can’t easily practice their social skills, make friends, and nurture their emotional wellbeing now? It’s hard not to worry about how remote or hybrid learning, canceled sports, and rare play dates are impacting their social emotional development, especially when ADHD is already a complicating factor.
Though we can’t wave a magic wand to end quarantines, parents can still help their children develop social skills while stuck at home in a way that translates to the in-person world.
Social Emotional Development in Children with ADHD
Social emotional development takes root when children witness the social world – whether online or in person – and how it works. Encouraging children to engage in, and reflect on, the social world — rather than simply describing it — helps them intuitively build the skills to move through it. Parents can help children pay attention to, and reflect on, their interactions by asking open-ended questions (who, what, when, where, how?) and by practicing reflective listening. Here are some recommended strategies for doing that.
1. Prep Your Child (and Yourself) First
Many children resist learning new social skills. Maybe they are holding tight to a fixed story about themselves that they don’t recognize is hindering them socially and alienating other kids. When kids constantly hear that they need to “fix” something about themselves, it may spur a fear of failure, and therefore, hinder attempts to learn new skills. Apart from that, making friends and being social is hard.
Many parents do not realize that they’re communicating with their child in a way that discourages or annoys them. That’s why it’s important to first understand your child’s point of view and focus on building a positive relationship with them so that they become active participants.