Parents: For 2016, make a resolution to teach your kids social skills

This new year, make a promise to teach social skills to your children.

“Even a simple act like shaking hands,” said Beth Maloney, 2014 Arizona Teacher of the Year. “Let alone looking someone else in the eye when you’re speaking to them, or holding a back-and-forth conversation type of thing.”

Parents can teach kids how to order at restaurants with proper eye-contact and manners or shake one new hand at school each day.

“Even as little as threes and fours can definitely be taught pleases and thank yous, may I, and yes-sir and no-sir,” she said. “It’s kind of a lost art, but it goes a long way in really setting your child up for success.”

Maloney said parents can encourage their kids to ask their friends a question when they return from winter break.

“Don’t just tell them about what you did over break, but ask someone else a question,” she said. “What did you do over winter break, what presents did you get for the holidays?”

Questioning skills can be difficult for young children who tend to want to talk about themselves, she said.

“Other social interactions could be playing with someone new, is often kind of hard for a younger child,” Maloney said. “(They’ll) often kind of play with everyone in general, but not always specifically target this child or that child.”

Parents can also ask their child a conversation-sparking question each day.

“These are skills that when you practice them and they’re second nature to you, they kind of help you get your foot in the door,” Maloney said.

The Sunset Hills Elementary teacher said social skills will help kids with job interviews, college applications and other crucial social setting situations all throughout life.

“These are little tips and techniques that can really go a long way for building your young child into a really socially healthy kind of teenager and adult,” she said.

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