As a parent, seeing your children get socially excluded in their school can be difficult. It could be heartbreaking to see them coming home after school feeling unhappy about their day. Sometimes, the best way to determine how your child is actually feeling is by simply asking about it. You might not know it, but your child may be having problems with being excluded in school activities. Helping children deal with exclusion can be tricky, but as long as you’re equipped with the basics, you can easily help them manage.
As with most of the problems that your child deals with at school, it is very important to always listen to your child when they’re trying to tell you something. Continue reading to learn about other effective strategies.
Validate your child’s experiences
One of the best ways you can help your child manage exclusion is by validating their experiences. You want to provide them with a healthy environment and a safe space where they can talk freely about their emotions and experiences in school.
When talking to your child, you may not want to use language that might make your child feel like their experiences do not matter at all. For example, they might feel shunned if you tell them to “just get over” their problems. Instead, you may want to use kinder words and instill in them the importance of sharing their emotions without having to feel guilty about doing so.
While it may be sometimes difficult for children to speak up, you don’t always have to force your child to speak up – let them approach you in their own time because this is when they feel like they’re ready to talk.
Encourage them to seek friendships
A loss of a friend or a change in school environment can be disheartening for your child, especially if they don’t necessarily find it easy to make friends. Likewise, it may not always be smooth-sailing to just tell your child to “put themselves out there”.
The best way for your child to deal with this kind of situation is by encouraging them to foster more friendships. These friendships don’t necessarily have to develop in a school environment – they can be nurtured at home or outside.
For example, during weekends, you may want to accompany your child to a playground where they can meet other children their age. You can also take them to a space where they can engage in a shared bonding activity with other kids – such as drawing, painting, and the like. Having already made friends in a relaxed environment, they may eventually have an easier time making new ones in school.
Make time for them
When your child is experiencing exclusion in school, sometimes it’s a good idea to look at the situation at home. You may not be aware of it, but you might be depriving your child of the attention and care that they need.
When this happens, your child might feel unmotivated to connect with other students. The best way for you to mitigate this issue is by making time for your child. Whether it’s by having dinner with them, playing indoor games, or simply watching television, it could go a long way in helping your child feel more confident in school, when he feels loved at home.
Work with their teachers
Finally, one of the soundest pieces of advice to help your child deal with exclusion is to coordinate with their teachers.
Teachers might actually have a better grasp of your child’s experiences because of the fact they spend a lot of time with them. Likewise, many schools have a strong anti-bullying stance. Talking to your child’s teachers may easily help you identify what issues your child may be having.
Compounded with other school-related programs that foster social skills and character development, the teachers would always be eager to help in helping your child feel more welcome and confident in the classroom.
Key Takeaway
As mentioned before, helping children deal with exclusion in school can be a bit tricky, especially when the root of the problem is sometimes not at all evident. Sometimes, your child may feel excluded because of a lack of confidence, unwelcome experiences with other kids, or simply because they’re having difficulty forging friendships with their peers. The best piece of advice is to always have a ready and listening heart when you’re talking to your child.
