Being ready for school means more than knowing letters and numbers; it also means knowing how to play well with others.

As children settle into the new school year, they are likely developing new friendships. These peer relationships are an influential part of their social development, helping children gain a sense of belonging and confidence in and outside of the classroom.

For young children, parents are the blueprint for forming relationships and understanding others’ emotions. By engaging in activities that help children show empathy, share with others, and invite others to play at home, you can help your child grow into a kind friend.

Here are three simple ways you can prepare your child for positive social interactions:

Notice and Name Feelings

Empathy in children begins as they learn to identify, understand, and express their own feelings, as well as those of others.

Books are excellent opportunities to explore different emotions together. For example, you can help your child name the feelings shown in a book’s illustrations and connect the events to their own life. Try asking, “How is this character feeling? How can you tell?” “Have you ever felt this way?”

You can also encourage your child to describe their own feelings and their impact with “I” statements, such as “I got frustrated when you took my toy away” or “I felt happy when you invited me to play.”

Practice Fair Ways to Play

Teaching your child to play with others, trade, and take turns helps them get along better with other children and have more fun in the classroom.

You can actively model fair ways to play at home by sharing your favorite snacks with your child during movie time, taking turns choosing which game to play next, or trading roles during pretend play.

By showing your child what fairness looks like in daily situations, you help them build the foundation for friendships as they practice patience, cooperation, and respect.

Encourage Welcoming and Joining In

Inviting others to play or learning how to join others in play can be challenging for children.

You can build children’s confidence by practicing easy social scripts at home. For example, you can teach your child to introduce themselves using a friendly voice and asking, “Do you want to play with me?” You can also role-play asking to join others in play by saying, “That looks fun. May I play too?” whenever you want to join their play.

Remind your child that a simple hello can be the start of a new friendship!