Making Friends: Social Skills at Home
Help your child take turns, share, join in play and build warm connections with other children.
Written by the Inclusive Developmental and Therapy Center therapy team · medically reviewed by Dr Muhammad Suffyan, MB BS (GMC 8023727) · Last reviewed July 2026
Watching your child hover at the edge of the group, or struggle to find a way in, can really tug at your heart. Making friends comes easily to some children and takes a lot more practice for others — and that’s okay. Social skills are learned, one small playful step at a time, and home is the safest place in the world to start.
This program gives you gentle, play-based ways to help your child connect. You are their first playmate and their best teacher. It supports their social growth, but it doesn’t replace an assessment if you’re worried about how your child gets on with others.
Who this program is for
- Children who find it hard to join in or play with others
- Little ones who struggle to share or take turns
- Children who play alongside others but not yet with them
- Families who want simple, playful ways to build connection
- Parents keen to help a shy or unsure child feel more sure of themselves
Important — when to get professional help
This is a supportive home program — it isn’t a diagnosis, and it doesn’t replace a proper assessment. Please speak to a professional soon if:
- Little or no interest in other people, together with a loss of skills your child once had
- Extreme distress or panic simply from being around other children
- No eye contact, pointing or shared attention by the ages you would expect it
- Your child seems unable to connect even one to one with familiar, loving adults
- Social difficulties that are clearly getting worse rather than slowly improving
If any of these sound familiar, a professional near you is the best next step — earlier help is always kinder and easier. You can also try our free 2-minute check.
Your step-by-step roadmap
Move at your child’s pace, not the calendar’s — the “weeks” are just a gentle order, not a race. Feel free to repeat any stage for as long as it’s helping.
Week 1 — Play together first
Build connection through one-to-one play.- Carve out short bursts of child-led play where you just follow their lead.
- Get face to face and copy what your child does, to spark a bit of shared attention.
- Keep it fun and pressure-free — connection matters far more than the “right” way to play.
Try this: Join your child’s play before you expect them to join anyone else’s.
Week 2 — Taking turns
Practise the back-and-forth of friendship.- Play simple turn-taking games, like rolling a ball to and fro.
- Use clear words — “My turn… your turn” — so the rhythm is easy to feel.
- Start with two turns each and build up slowly as it gets easier.
Try this: Turn-taking is the heartbeat of friendship, and a rolling ball teaches it beautifully.
Week 3 — Show how it looks
Model the friendly social moves.- Gently model waving, saying hello and asking “Can I play?” in ordinary moments.
- Use toys or puppets to act out sharing and being kind.
- Point out friendly behaviour in others — “Look, she shared her toy.”
Try this: Children copy what they see, so be the friendly behaviour you’re hoping to grow.
Week 4 — Practise sharing
Make sharing feel safe and positive.- Play short sharing games where the toy comes straight back, so it feels safe.
- Warmly praise every attempt to share, however small.
- Keep a few special toys aside — expecting a child to share everything isn’t fair.
Try this: Sharing feels much safer once your child learns the toy always comes back.
Week 5 — Out into the world
Take the skills to other children.- Set up one short, calm playdate with a single friend rather than a big group.
- Stay nearby to gently guide the turn-taking and help if things wobble.
- Keep it short and finish on a happy note, so play stays a lovely thing.
Try this: Practise at home, then take it out gently — one friend beats a crowd every time.
Little tricks that make it work
- Start with one calm playmate, not a busy, noisy group.
- Keep first playdates short, and finish while it’s still going well.
- Praise the trying, not only the success.
- Use puppets, stories and pretend play to rehearse the social moments.
- Never force sharing or affection; guide it gently instead.
- Be your child’s teammate — stay close, and step in kindly when they need you.
How you’ll know it’s working
- Your child takes more turns in a game before drifting off.
- They share a little more willingly than they used to.
- They start to watch, copy or join other children rather than hang back.
- Playing with others feels a bit easier, and a bit happier, for your child.
Is this based on real methods? This program uses widely recommended play-based social learning: modelling friendly behaviour, turn-taking games, and practising skills at home before helping a child generalise them to other children and settings.
Feeling stuck, or want this tailored to your own child? A therapist is happy to guide you.
Ask a therapist on WhatsApp
Want expert eyes on your child’s progress?
A short, friendly conversation is the best first step. Call, text or WhatsApp us — we’ll listen and guide you, with no pressure.
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