Bringing Social Skills and Video Learning Together

Social skills are one of the main areas of development crucial for children to build confidence. However, many times social skills are delegated to traits children will just “pick up” as they grow into adulthood and are not addressed in a specific and structured manner. Social skills are no different from developing academic, athletic, or musical abilities. They need to be broken down into fundamentals and practiced on a daily basis for children to become comfortable and confident in this area of functioning. The Boost Kids CD-ROM was developed as a tool to help educators and parents address this issue with their students and children in a fun and interactive way.

The CD-ROM brings social skills and video learning together through the depiction of a variety real life scenarios children face everyday. The CD-ROM was created in this format to give children visual reinforcement of the important skills necessary for social functioning at a high level. It is important to read and discuss the fundamentals in each aspect of social skills development, but the ability for children to visually see video representations of real life situations gives them a clearer image of how they might look if they did or did not use good social skills.

This sequence of social skills and video reinforcement follows a consistent pattern throughout the CD-ROM. The video first shows the wrong way to handle a social situation and then it shows the right way. This immediate contrast is depicted to show children the difference using good social skills can make on the impression they leave on others and the confidence they carry them selves with. The incorrect handling of the situation shows them habits to avoid while the correct handling gives them an example they can emulate and remember for their own real life situations.

For example, greeting people is the first area of social skill development discussed on the CD-ROM. The fundamentals of greeting people are initially covered in the video to lay a foundation. Important things such as say “hi” first, use the person’s name, stand tall, shake hands firmly, and make eye contact. Then the video moves to the real life scenario where two boys cross each other in the neighborhood. In the first scene one of the boys does not use any of the social skills discussed. He makes no eye contact, does not say “hi”, and really just shows no interest in the other boy. Then in the second scene the same boy uses the skills discussed with the other boy and comes across much friendlier and more confident. As mentioned earlier, this contrast helps children see the positive impact good social skills can have on the impression they leave on others, while at the same time preparing them to face similar situations in their lives. Other areas of learning covered and brought together by social skills and video reinforcement on the CD-ROM include speaking clearly, telephone manners, being a good listener, asking questions, saying ‘thank you”, apologizing, and many more…

The Boost Kids CD-ROM was created to not only prepare children for the social situations they will face in life but to help them thrive in these situations. By bringing the importance of developing social skills and video learning together children now have a tool to help them bolster their social ability and build the confidence they need to succeed in life.

By Charlie Copp, Director of Boost Kids

About the author: Charlie Copp is program coordinator for BOOST KIDS, an interactive CD ROM-based program for kids ages eight and up, that teaches, demonstrates, and reinforces the value of applying people skills and strong character to everyday life. His work with BOOST KIDS confirms what Copp has always believed: that kids and teens are hungry for character-building life skills, and with them gain the confidence needed to succeed in the classroom, on the playing field, in their interpersonal relationships, and on the job.