How does kindergarten develop a child’s social skills?

When a child starts attending kindergarten, they enter a world where they meet other children every day – different personalities with their own emotions, experiences, and challenges. This is a new environment where children not only play and learn, but also gradually learn how to be among others. Through everyday situations, children begin to develop social skills – the ability to communicate, negotiate, listen, express their feelings, and understand those around them.

At Saulės Gojus kindergarten, social skills are not taught through separate lessons or carefully scripted activities. Instead, they develop as part of a living, ongoing process woven into everyday life – games, teamwork, disagreements, making up, moments of joy, and moments of frustration. Social learning happens naturally, through experience and relationships, allowing each child to grow at their own pace.

Social skills are the abilities that help a child form and maintain relationships with others. In the preschool years, these skills include a wide range of everyday behaviours – from greeting others and making eye contact to resolving disagreements peacefully. In kindergarten, social skills develop through simple yet meaningful situations: sharing toys, waiting for a turn, playing as part of a group, and learning how to be with others.

A lack of social skills becomes noticeable when these abilities are still developing. Children may find it harder to build relationships, become frustrated or angry more easily, avoid shared activities, or struggle to express their needs and feelings. This is why consistent and gentle development of social skills at an early age is so important: it helps children feel more secure and strengthens their confidence in themselves and in those around them.

Play is the most natural language for children. Through play, preschoolers learn about the world and about being with others. Role-play activities, such as playing family, shop, or doctor, allow children to explore different roles, develop empathy, and understand that everyone in a community has their own place and responsibilities. When social learning takes place through play, children learn to negotiate, share ideas, and resolve disagreements without pressure or judgement.

Team games encourage patience, respect for rules, cooperation, and working towards a shared goal. Creative activities – drawing, building, and working on joint projects – help children make sense of their emotions, while social skills in kindergarten develop naturally through shared experiences and relationships.

Clear group rules give children a strong sense of security. In kindergarten, these rules are developed together with the children, helping them feel involved and responsible for shared routines and order. Daily responsibilities – tidying up toys, helping a friend, caring for plants – encourage independence and further strengthen a child’s social skills.

Through these experiences, children learn that their behaviour affects others and that being part of a community means contributing in their own way.

Teachers play a supportive role by observing children and helping them find solutions independently. Rather than making decisions for the child, they guide, support, and help children recognise their feelings and understand different situations. This approach allows social skills to develop naturally, without pressure.

Cooperation with parents is equally important. When kindergarten and family follow similar agreements and values, social skills develop consistently and harmoniously both at kindergarten and at home.

The development of social skills is often reflected in small, everyday moments. A child may begin to talk more about friends, suggest solutions during disagreements, or express their feelings more confidently. These are signs that social skills are gradually strengthening.

At home, the most important thing is to observe this process without comparing the child to others, as every child’s developmental path is unique.

Not all children form relationships or take part in group activities at the same pace. Some need more time to observe from the sidelines, while others need additional support. At Saulės Gojus Kindergarten, slower social development is not seen as a problem, but as a natural part of each child’s individual developmental path. A calm, unhurried environment helps children feel accepted and gradually discover the joy of connecting with others.

The social skills children develop in kindergarten form a strong foundation for the future. Children who can communicate, listen, and find compromises tend to adapt more easily to school life, build friendships with greater confidence, and feel more secure in themselves. At Saulės Gojus Kindergarten, we believe that social skills develop through a long yet gentle process, shaped by relationships, experience, and a safe daily environment – and that these skills support the child throughout life.