Here are signs that may indicate your child has problems with social interaction:

• Little eye contact when listening or talking
• Has trouble understanding non-verbal messages
• Gets very anxious
• Withdrawn
• Gets picked on at school
• Doesn’t want to go to school
• Blames others for things that happen
• Says things like “Nobody likes me”
• Not doing well in class
• Not having interaction outside school

Here are ways to help improve your child’s social skills at home and school:

1. Schedule one-on-one play dates outside school.
2. When approaching a group, don’t have your child ask “Can I play, too?” Instead, teach your child to mimic the play of others. If everyone is digging in the sand, just dig, too. Conversation will build from there.
3. Talk to the teacher about your child’s shyness. Often pairing a socially inhibited child with a more talkative one can help foster cooperation.
4. Help your child highlight something he or she is interested in or good at during sharing time at school. This can increase his or her status with fellow students.
5. Help set up the rule “You can’t say you can’t play” at your child’s school. If kids know that negative talk will not be allowed, it establishes a place for acceptance and learning.