The Importance Of Social Skills

Based on research, it is safe to infer that social skills can affect anyone dramatically. Social skills are used by everyone everyday but these skills are not taught to everyone. Whenever you come in contact with a person, you use some type of social skills. The way you shake a person’s hand, your eye contact, your tone, and even your smile are all social skills that we all use in our everyday lives. I believe that social skills are just as important as academic skills such as English and Math. In the online article, Connecting with Kids, Angela Wiley claims, “As children get older, they become part of a larger social world”. This means that as children get older their social lives become more important to them and can affect people other than

Teenagers who cannot cope with certain social situations often develop mental disorders such as bipolar or depression. These situations can lead to failure in the classroom. This situation might seem unrealistic to some but this is the harsh reality that many teenagers face almost every day. I feel that this can be avoided if schools actually teach social skills and prepared students for real life situations, such as peer pressure from other student in school. In Adolescent Peer Relations, Friendships, and Romantic Relationships: Do They Predict Social Anxiety and Depression? Hannah Moore Harrison says, “Adolescents with higher levels of social anxiety reported poorer social functioning.” I feel this statement is beneficial to my argument because it proves my point that social skills and mental state have an effect on each other. Therefore, I feel that this further explains why social skills should be a requirement in every school system. Social anxiety is just one of many mental disorders that can effect children and go on to affect them as adults. Also, in Social Relationships And Motivation In Middle School: The Role Of Parents, Teachers, And Peers, Kathryn R. Wentzel goes on to state, “For most students, early adolescence is a time of change and transition. With respect to interpersonal relationships and social adjustment, these changes reflect a growing psychological and emotional independence from adults and a corresponding dependence on peer relationships to establish and maintain positive perceptions of the self ” (Steinberg, 1990; Youniss & Smollar, 1985). This proves that children are at a very sensitive time period in their lives and therefore are more vulnerable to developing a mental disorder during this stage in their lives. These quotes all strengthen my argument because they highlight how social skills can prevent mental disorders and go on to prevent problems in the