Parents want their children to grow into well-rounded, healthy adults. That usually means eating nutritious foods, getting plenty of exercise with fun activities like dance or gymnastics classes, and doing well in school. However, social interaction plays a significant role in helping kids develop social and emotional skills.

How Social Interaction Benefits Kids

1. Develop Social Skills

Young children learn by interacting with and observing the world around them. Your daughter’s gymnastics classes keep her fit and teach her how to be an excellent gymnast, but the activity does much more than that.

She will learn how to share the gymnastics equipment with others, listen and learn from a teacher, and keep practicing after she fails. Each of these benefits has implications beyond exercise. They encompass collaboration, attentive listening, and perseverance.

2. Boost Emotional Inventory

If your child has trouble relating to others in social situations or making friends, the school can be a lonely, scary place. Social interaction that starts at a young age can help kids develop skills that they’ll need in school and beyond. They learn how to get along with their peers, respect others’ space and belongings, communicate with others, and make friends. When kids participate in group activities, their ability for empathy and understanding emotions increases drastically. 

3. Increase Confidence

When children become comfortable interacting socially, they often will have increased self-esteem. Some kids are naturally outgoing and eager to form connections, while others are shy and timid. Quiet, introverted kids can practice social interaction in other settings and still reap the benefits.

For example, joining an after-school sports team or club allows kids to bond with others over shared interests, without the pressure of school. Your child will learn crucial skills in soccer or basketball, but they also learn to be more confident.

Are you looking for a group activity to nurture your child’s social interaction skills? The Little Gym of St. Charles in St. Peters, MO, can help. Along with fun classes such as kids gymnastics, tumbling, dance, and karate, The Little Gym of St. Charles hosts seasonal kids camps and birthday parties. Call (636) 970-1220 to learn more or check out their classes online.