Help: My Child Can't Get Along with Anyone

If your child has a problem getting along with other children, you are not the only one. Every parent has had one of those moments. Children will not always get along, that we can count on. However, it becomes a problem when the behavior persists and the child exhibits the inability to interact positively with peers on a regular basis. There can be a variety of issues that contribute to this behavior. However, the goal is not to analyze the cause but find an immediate solution that permanently squelches this behavior.

One way to remedy this is to get hands on, and I mean really hands on. Instead of limiting the activities your son or daughter participates in, do the exact opposite. Use this as an opportunity to guide your child into appropriate behaviors. Some may argue that hovering over your child and interacting with them during play with other children should be avoided, that children need to learn how to handle issues independently but this is not so with all children. They may have not yet developed the maturity to cope in various situations. While actively participating, you are not only telling them how to behave but setting an example to follow.

Exercise caution and respect your child in these endeavors. Instead of directly commanding them to give something to so and so because they have yet to get a turn, point out in a non judgmental way that the other child did not get a turn. Then add something such as, "I feel left out if I don't get to participate, maybe we could give him/her a turn." In this manner, you are not humiliating your child and are teaching them to respect and consider others feelings. Why is this important? If your child learns to base their behavior on mutual respect of others feelings, they are more likely to continue behaving in such a manner.

There is no need to worry, you won't have to be standing over your son or daughter forever. As time goes by, you can gradually step back and watch them with the other parents. Don't over react, as parents we have a tendency to assume that the other parents are watching us, scrutinizing everything our child does wrong. This typically is not the case, we

are usually holding our breath praying it's not our child again. Another important tip, check your own behavior. If you do not have courteous or polite exchanges with others, you child is less likely to do so.