Encourage your child to consider things from another person’s perspective. When something happens, ask your child how he or she would feel about that. For example, say you see a man miss the bus on his way to work. Say to your child, “That man missed the bus. How do you think he feels? How would you feel if that happened to you?” You can also ask your child to put him or herself in a character’s shoes while watching television, movies, or while reading. Encourage him or her to stop and think how a character feels. If a character is behaving in a negative way, ask your child why a person may behave poorly.

For young children, between 2 and 3, encourage them to greet others by saying “Hi. " When leaving, tell them to say “Bye. " Also, encourage eye contact and smiling when appropriate. Children between the ages of 3 and 4 should be able to take turns during games and start initiating conversation with others. Between the ages of 4 and 5, children should be able to express needs by saying things like “Stop!” or “No!” Between the ages of 5 and 6, you can teach your kids to say “Please” and “Thank you” and discourage them from using foul language.

Teach kids how to take turns by playing simple games that require turn-taking. You can also play games with simple instructions, or games that require teamwork. Teach children to share. Encourage your kids to share with other children during games. If you have multiple kids, require them to share certain toys during play. Fantasy play can also help, especially for children between 4 and 5. Kids of this age may benefit from pretending to be someone older or taking on the imaginary role of a mother or a father.

Say “Please” and “Thank you” to cashiers, other parents, and teachers. Make small talk with people you know, showing your children how to hold a conversation. If you slip up in front of your child and snap at another person, offer a genuine apology. This can teach children it’s okay to screw up occasionally, but apologizing for your mistakes is important.

You should also teach children they have a right to their own personal space. It’s okay to refuse hugs, for example, and to speak up if another child or adult is making them uncomfortable. Encourage children to let people know when their personal space is violated.

If your child angrily snatches a toy out of his older brother’s hand, tell him he should not have done that. Instead, encourage him to say something like, “Can I have a turn now?” If a child is crying or throwing a tantrum, work on calming the child down. Once your child is relaxed, have him or her calmly explain what’s wrong. Tell your child, in the future, if something is wrong he or she can tell you instead of having a fit.

You can also have children pay attention to tone while watching television. Encourage them to pay attention to how a character sounds when angry, sad, happy, and so on.

Make a point of reading to your children every night. Incorporate a bedtime story into your nighttime routine. You should strive for high quality fiction with original characters. Stories full of cliches may not have as big an impact on empathetic thinking. Go for classic children’s books that have received good reviews.

If your child is shy, one-on-one playdates may work best. It can also be helpful to schedule playdates with a particularly outgoing child, as this child can model good social behavior for your child. If your child has an issue with one of his friends, encourage him or her to apologize. You want to teach your kid how to repair rifts in friendships. Learning to apologize is a big aspect of social maturation.

Encourage your child to sign up for an after school sports league in his or her school. You can also enroll your child in a local little league team. Not all children will take well to team sports. If your child truly hates being involved in such activities, try not to push him or her. While sports can certainly help with socialization, they are only one of many routes to help a child mature socially.

Children with social delays may avoid eye contact. They may dislike being touched or hugged. They may not respond to questions about how they are feeling or what they are doing. If your child is socially delayed, they may struggle with even basic self-expression. A socially delayed child may not express feelings like hunger or pain. Socially delayed children may not be able to follow directions. They also may not engage in make believe play, like pretending a banana is a phone, like other children do. Instead, they may be content with lining up objects, with their imaginative tasks taking place only in their head.

If your child is under 3 and you’re in the US, you may be qualified for a program called Early Intervention. This program can help get you in touch with psychiatrists and therapists to help treat your child’s delay.

If you do find your child has a disability such as autism, it’s important to notify educators. Your child’s teacher should know how to best help them get through school.

You can find a therapist by asking your regular doctor for a referral. You can also find a therapist online, or through your insurance provider.