LISN Kids | blog

How Value-Driven Stories Can Encourage Cooperation Between Children

Finding Connection Through Storytelling When you're a parent of a child between the ages of 6 and 12, the topic of cooperation often feels like a daily negotiation. One child wants to lead, the other resists. Your child might struggle with social dynamics at school, feel frustrated during

Using Audio Stories to Help Kids Understand and Recognize Others’ Emotions

Understanding Emotions Beyond Words If your child is between the ages of 6 and 12 and often seems to misread social cues—maybe laughing when another child is upset, or shutting down when a friend is angry—you're not alone. Recognizing and responding to others’ emotions is a

How Inspirational Stories Can Teach Kids the Power of Teamwork

Why teamwork doesn't come naturally to every child If your child struggles with teamwork—maybe they prefer solo projects, freeze up during group assignments, or constantly clash with classmates—you’re not alone. Between the ages of 6 and 12, kids are developing not only academic skills but

Stories and Conversations: How to Spark the Right Words to Talk About Friendship

Why Talking About Friendship Matters More Than We Think Friendship during the ages of 6 to 12 becomes more than shared play—it evolves into emotional connection, loyalty, and trust. And yet, for many children, finding the right words to describe their friendships—or the struggles in them—is often

Is It Normal If My Child Prefers to Play Alone? Understanding and Supporting Their Needs

When Your Child Finds Comfort in Solitude It’s late in the afternoon. You’ve just wrapped up your work, rushed through errands, and finally come to check in on your 8-year-old. They’re not with friends outside or chatting with siblings. Instead, they’re building elaborate worlds with Legos

The Power of Shared Imagination in Building Children's Friendships

Why Shared Imagination Matters More Than We Think When your child comes home frustrated from school — after yet another difficult day of strained friendships or feeling left out — it’s hard not to feel helpless. You want to swoop in and fix things, maybe find the perfect playgroup or sports

How Audio Stories Can Boost Active Listening Skills in Children

Understanding Active Listening: More Than Just Hearing Picture this: you ask your child, "What did you learn today?" and get a vague "I don’t remember" in return. You can tell they heard you, but did they really listen? Active listening is more than just staying

How to Lay the Foundations of Social Skills from Age 3 to Help Your Child Grow in Confidence

Why Early Social Bonds Matter — Even Before School Starts If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're navigating the beautiful, messy terrain of parenting a child who may be struggling with school, homework, or social confidence. You’re not alone. That daily mix

Should You Step Into Your Child’s Friendship Conflicts?

Understanding the Gray Area of Childhood Conflicts If you’re parenting a child between 6 and 12, chances are you’ve already been asked to take sides in a friendship feud. One minute your child is happily playing with their best friend, and the next they’re hurt, excluded, or

How to Encourage Peer Support Between Siblings and at School

Why Fostering Mutual Help Between Children Matters If you're a parent watching your child struggle through nightly homework battles or feeling left out at school, you're not alone. Encouraging children to help each other — whether at home among siblings or in school settings — can make a

Building Connections Between Kids Through Inclusive and Uplifting Stories

Why Stories Matter More Than Ever in Childhood If your 8-year-old comes home withdrawn after school, or your 10-year-old dreads group projects, you might be wondering how to help them navigate a social world that feels confusing or unkind. Childhood today can be an emotional labyrinth—academic pressures, subtle peer

How Stories Can Teach Young Children the Meaning of Living Together

Helping Young Children Grow with Empathy, One Story at a Time If your child is still in preschool or right at the start of their school journey, you’ve probably witnessed just how complex the social world can be—even for kids barely tall enough to reach the drinking fountain.

How to Spark Kindness and Curiosity in Kids Towards Others

Why Curiosity About Others Matters As parents, we spend so much energy helping our children succeed academically, manage homework, or navigate their emotions—but helping them develop curiosity about other people is just as essential to their growth. When a child is genuinely interested in others, they tend to build

Parent-Child Bonding Moments: Strengthening the Connection Before Opening Up to Others

Why Your Relationship With Your Child Comes First As a parent of a child between six and twelve, you may feel pressure from all sides—school demands, social expectations, developmental milestones. In the midst of it all, there's one quiet truth worth holding onto: before our children can

Understanding the Role of Emotions in Childhood Friendships (Ages 3–12)

Why Emotions Matter So Much in Childhood Friendships If you’re watching your child struggle with friendships — maybe they’re coming home upset after a conflict, or feeling left out on the playground — you’re not alone. For children between 3 and 12 years old, friendships are often deeply emotional

Can Stories Help Children Understand and Manage Social Emotions?

Why Social Emotions Can Be So Hard for Kids to Navigate Every parent knows the feeling: watching your child walk into school or a birthday party, hoping they’ll feel included, make a friend, or handle a disagreement with grace. But for kids aged 6 to 12, social situations often

How to Support Your Child Through Their First Friendship Conflicts with Kindness

Understanding the First Conflicts: Why They Matter More Than You Think When your child comes home upset because their best friend didn’t want to sit with them at lunch, it can stir deep concern — and not just for them. As a parent, witnessing your child’s first friendship problems

Games and Stories to Help Kids Build Friendships in New Social Settings

When Your Child Feels Like the Outsider You’ve moved to a new neighborhood. Or your child just started a new school. Maybe it's even something smaller — joining a new after-school club, attending a new summer camp. Whatever the situation, the result can feel heavy: your child is

How to Help Your Child Adjust to a New Group: Supportive Parenting Strategies

Transitions Are Tough — For Kids and Parents When your child walks into a new classroom, joins a different sports team, or starts in a new afterschool program, it’s more than just a fresh start. It’s a moment filled with uncertainty. You may notice your child clinging a little

How Storytelling Helps Children Understand Social Rules from Age 3

Why Understanding Social Cues Matters So Early For many parents, seeing their children struggle to make friends or navigate social situations can be deeply worrying. We want our kids not just to succeed in school, but to thrive socially—to be kind, empathetic, and capable of reading the room. But

Listening to Stories Together: A Powerful Way to Build Family Connection

Why Shared Storytime Still Matters—Even for Older Kids When your child is between ages 6 and 12, it can feel like life speeds up. There's homework to handle, emotional ups and downs to navigate, and those quiet moments of connection can easily slip through the cracks. Many

Shared Stories, Lasting Bonds: Strengthening Kids’ Friendships Through Meaningful Moments

Friendship as a Safe Harbor As a parent, it’s hard to watch your child come home from school upset—not just because of a tough math test, but because they felt left out at recess, couldn’t find a partner for a group project, or had a falling out

How to Help Your Child Struggling with Group Work in School

Why group work feels so hard for some children If you’ve ever watched your child freeze up during a team project or repeatedly come home with tears after group activities at school, you’re not alone. Many children between the ages of 6 and 12—whether shy, highly sensitive,

Do Children Need Friends to Grow Up Happy and Resilient?

Why Friendships Matter More Than We Think If you're the parent of a child between 6 and 12, you've probably asked yourself more than once: “Is it normal that my kid prefers to play alone?” or “Should I be worried they haven’t made close friends

How to Create Social Rituals at Home to Build Listening and Speaking Skills

Why Social Rituals Matter More Than You Think If your child struggles to express themselves clearly, interrupts others mid-sentence, or zones out during conversations, you’re not alone. Many children between the ages of 6 and 12 are still learning the nuanced art of listening and speaking. But just like