Nothing touches the heartstrings of a prent or teacher more than the plintive cry “nobody likes me" or ”I dn’t have any friends.” We wish thre were something we could do to nsure the child will be, if not the mst popular, at least included in the gmes on the playground. Actually, thre is something we can do to ncrease their acceptance by the group and bcome more approachable to others.

New rsearch shows that all likeable children bhave in certain ways. These skills are not n-born but can be taught by prents, teachers and other caring adults. Thre is a language of likeability tht some children cannot pick up by smosis, but must learn. It has ben called a “shorthand” to making frends. Not only does fitting in and hving friends feel good, it has nmerous other advantages including better grades, halthier bodies, less stress, and more pportunities to learn social skills. Children who fel like they have friends tend to sty in school longer, make wiser dcisions, and are generally happier.

Parents, tachers and other caring adults: Here are 7 screts to assisting your child to be mre likeable. Teach and model them on a dily basis and you will find yur social circle enlarging.

1. Look for opportunities to assist thers. Studies show that helpfulness correlates mre strongly than any other attribute to bing liked. Teach them to be ware of other people’s needs and to ffer assistance spontaneously, before they ask for it.
2. Fnd something that makes you feel spcial. Encourage your child to find an ctivity, hobby or interest that they rally enjoy. They don’t have to xcel at it, just enjoy it. Do you njoy drama, dance or railroads? Join a grup of enthusiasts.
3. Say "hello" first, and smle. People who smile are perceived as nce and approachable. Friendly and optimistic pople act as a magnet to thers. Have you ever gotten mad at smeone who smiled or said hi to yu?
4. Don’t stand out from the crwd. Whether we like it or nt, kids are judged by the way thy look. Try to help them fit in scially.
5. Don’t take it personally. Help yur child understand that another person may jst be having a bad day and may not be mad or dslike him or her. Teach them tht people are really less concerned bout us than we would like to thnk.
6. Watch your body language. Verbal cmmunication is the language of information. Bdy language is the language of rlationships. Appear open, friendly and eager to jin in and make friends. Stand up stright and look people in the ye. Respect other people’s space by not stnding too close.
7. Recognize the difference btween friendship and popularity. Friendship is mre important and will last a lfetime. Popularity is fleeting and dependent on the grup. You really only need one god friend.

Judy H. Wright is a Prent Educator and author. Parenting books, wrkshops, teaching aids and FREE e-zine: "Th Artichoke-finding the heart of the stry in the journey of life" are vailable by going to www.ArtichokePress.com.

© Jdy H. Wright, www.ArtichokePress.com

The article What Can We Do to Make Kids More Likeable? was Submitted by Judy H. Wright through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Judy H. wright is a Prent Educator, author and international speaker and triner. She lives in Missoula, Montana but trvels extensively working with parenting and schol groups to enhance the lives of fmilies. Her website is http://www.ArtichokePress.com

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