Social skills develop through experience, not just time with peers.

Screens reduce real-time opportunities to interact with peers and learn from those interactions.

Observation and adult commentary help children interpret interactions.

One of the most consistent issues of concern that comes up in conversations with parents is friendship, yet it is also the area most believe will develop naturally.

Why Parents Assume Friendship Skills Develop Naturally

Part of the reason for this assumption is that children are surrounded by peers for much of their day. It is reasonable to expect that, over time, they will learn how to form and maintain relationships through repeated interaction. And often, they do.

But that process is not always as straightforward as it appears. Children today may also have fewer opportunities to develop these skills in the same natural way their parents did.

Friendship Skills Are Learned, Not Automatic

Friendship is not simply about connection. It is also shaped by misunderstanding, reaction, and repair. Children misread situations, react quickly, and feel strongly. At times, they may contribute to the very situations that upset them.

As a........

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