Preparing Kids for a Social World… Through Books!
When I became a parent, preparing my son to socialize was a top priority. This world can be a tough place, and friendships and connections are more important than ever. According to a study from Stanford, good social relationships are the most consistent predictor of a happy life.
Social relationships are for everyone, it doesn’t matter your religion, political affiliations, age, location, etc. We can all seek and benefit from connection. As parents, some of us may be successful with this, modeling many positive friendships and connections for kids to see. But some may not.
This can be due to so many factors, but suffice to say building and keeping friendships doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Either way, we can still teach our kids about socializing, and as always books can be a wonderful way to teach these lessons.
Here are eight books that can be conversation starters and even idea generators for you and your kids:
Come Over to My House
My son and I both loved this book, which centers around people with a range of disabilities. I think there is also a wonderful message about kids visiting friends at their houses and getting to experience that all homes and families are different. Meeting up at playgrounds is great, but hosting friends at home allows for closer bonding for parents and kids. It can be easy to let an imperfect, messy house be your reason not to have people over. But kids don’t care! Or maybe you are the opposite– a tidy person who has reservations about letting kiddos turn your house upside down. But you can always prepare for this, putting away the messiest items or asking kids to stick to playing in a certain area.
A Moon for Moe and Mo and Home in a Lunchbox
Here are two lovely books that show friendships can transcend religion and culture.
(Left) Moses and Mohammed meet at a market. One is Jewish, the other Musim. They click right away, learning they are much more similar than they are different, and bring their families together. (Right) Jun struggles to communicate with classmates upon her move to America, but food brings them together and friendships begin to bloom.
Rather than just instructing kids to be nice to everyone, these books can start more detailed conversations about the value of all cultures and experiences, and how these differences may appear in their own day-to-day lives. If you teach your kids about different cultures and religions, they will be more likely to see such things as normal or even interesting. Exposing your kids to the cuisines of other countries will help them not turn their noses up at other’s eating practices.
Neighbors and Thank You Omu
Encouraging curiosity about community and neighbors is a great way for kids to start thinking about the world outside their home. Neighbors does just that with gorgeous illustrations. Thank You, Omu! is an engaging story that teaches about the importance of the give-and-take of community and connections.
The Thank You Letter
Not everyone is on board with Thank You cards, but consider getting your child involved with them! Taking a few minutes to express gratitude for presents or other treats or experiences can remind your kid where all those gifts came from. Plus, their friends can receive snail mail! My son is only four, so his job is writing his name and drawing a picture while I write out the note. Then we walk to the mailbox together.
My Art Book of Friendship and Just My Friend and Me
Simple goodness with these two! My Art Book of Friendship shows many different pieces of art that depict friendship. A way to share visually with kids who may prefer that medium. Which pieces are their favorites? And with a bit of a throwback to a millennial childhood– Little Critter just having an awesome day with his friend.
What would your little one want to do with their friend? If you have other tips and ideas to prepare our kids for a social world, I would love to hear them: laurenreadsitall@gmail.com
