Helping Children Build Friendships

Encouraging Social Skills Through Play

Friendships are an important part of childhood, but they don’t always happen overnight. Just like plants, friendships take time to grow and require care, patience, and nurturing. Some children naturally connect with new friends, while others may need more guidance and opportunities to develop social skills.

Getting Started: Encouraging Social Opportunities

Before children start school, it’s helpful to create opportunities for them to spend time with other children their age. These early interactions lay the foundation for building friendships, learning to share, take turns, and communicate effectively. Some ways to introduce social opportunities include:

Visiting a local park, library story hour, or visiting the EarlyON in your community

Attending adult-and-child activities such as swimming or music lessons

Visiting neighbours or family members with young children

Joining drop-in playgroups in your community

Practicing Social Skills at Home

Before introducing children to a social setting, practicing social skills at home can help build their confidence. Role-playing common social scenarios—such as introducing themselves, taking turns, and resolving conflicts—can make these interactions feel more familiar when they happen in real life.

EarlyON centers also provide opportunities for families to discuss social development and Resource Consultants from the SNR Collaborative visit EarlyON locations regularly to provide guidance and support.

Finding the Right Fit

Just like adults, children have different social preferences. Some are naturally more outgoing, while others prefer smaller, quieter interactions. When thinking about potential playmates, consider:

The child’s personality (Are they shy or outgoing?)

Their interests (Do they enjoy the same activities as another child?)

Their age and communication style

Forcing friendships or encouraging children to join activities they don’t enjoy can lead to frustration and rejection. Instead, taking things slowly and focusing on fun will help friendships develop naturally.

Building Confidence Through Connection

Social interactions can be challenging at first, but regular opportunities to play, talk, and engage with peers help children develop strong relationship skills. If you notice that a child needs extra support, websites like Connectability.ca offer great resources on social skills and child development.

By creating a supportive environment and encouraging play in different settings, children gain confidence to form meaningful friendships that will benefit them for years to come.

Resources we think you’ll love:

Visit our Tips and Resources Page for even more!