Building Social Skills in Online Schooling

By Katherine Kally

Overview

Children who attend school online enjoy several advantages over those who attend school in a traditional setting. Online school children have access to technologically advanced hardware and software that makes their online learning experience possible. They can attend school from their home, eliminating a commute. Online schools that encourage children to learn at their own pace give them the freedom to excel and succeed faster, or to receive the specialized attention they may require. Building social skills in online schooling requires a conscientious effort to ensure that the children keep pace with their traditionally schooled peers. Social activities, both online and off, are necessary to help them learn to interact individually and collectively in a social setting.

Building Social Skills in Online Schooling

Step 1

Purchase and install a video camera for your child's educational computer. The camera should have microphone capabilities so that your child can speak to others online. Install video chat software, like Skype or Camfrog to enable your child to see and hear others while they are seen and heard themselves, simulating a classroom environment.
Step 2

Locate and join online communities where your child can video chat with other children in a supervised setting. Your online school will likely have a video chat site, and you can find other monitored children's video chat rooms at Userplane.com and Kidscom.com. Children can visit with other children in their age group in an educational setting as well as to play games or just chat. This type of interaction will help build your child's social skills, both online and off.

Step 3

Join an online gaming community if your child is old enough to participate. Teen Second Life is an online virtual world in 3D that promotes socialization through game play and video interaction with other 'residents' of second life. Teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18 can explore, create and meet new people from all over the world.
Step 4

Join a community of other same-aged children group that participates in offline social activities such as hiking, crafting or nature studies. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are two organizations that provide an excellent opportunity for children to grow socially.
Step 5

Sign up your child for a sports team. Contact your local YMCA or other civic organizations for information on the available sporting activities for your child. Children learn the value of teamwork, communication and respect when they are part of a team. Building social skills comes naturally in a setting with other children in the same age range.

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