Building friendship skills

Joining games and conversations

You can help your child learn how to join in by:

• role-modelling how to join games or chats
• encouraging them to listen first before speaking
• helping them ask questions or make comments that show they’ve listened

Children may need support to understand that it’s polite to wait until others have finished talking before changing the topic.

Taking turns

Some children, including those with ADHD, may find turn-taking difficult. You can help by:

• explaining that their brain holds ideas briefly, which can lead to blurting things out
• encouraging them to write down ideas if they’re worried about forgetting
• playing board games or eating meals together to practise conversation skills

Coping with losing

Losing can be hard for anyone. You can support your child by:

• naming your own emotions when you lose
• showing how you manage disappointment
• helping them understand that losing is part of learning and growing

All types of games can give your child manageable experiences of losing.

The Managing emotions section can support you with recognising emotions and calming strategies.