6 Habits Hurting Your Child's Social Skills

Your child is sweet, well-loved, and somehow still struggling to make friends. Korean child psychologist Professor Jo Seon-mi says the reason might be sitting at your own dinner table — and it's almost never what parents expect.In this episode, we walk through six quiet parenting habits that chip away at a child's social skills without anyone noticing. Not the obvious ones — the everyday moments hiding in plain sight.You'll hear:- The three speech habits common in children with poor social skills (and what to say instead)- Why children who've never been refused at home often struggle to keep friends outside it- The "centre of the world" problem and how it quietly pushes peers away- How families unintentionally raise children like little royalty — and how to undo it gradually- How to praise in a way that builds character (praise choices, not compliance)- Why chores that serve other family members matter more than personal chores- The simple, almost old-fashioned habit that builds more social competence than any structured class- Why becoming your child's best friend leaves them with no reason to find one- Why parent-built friend groups produce children who never learned to make friends themselvesThis episode is for you if you're a first-time parent who wants practical, research-backed guidance without the guilt trip — or if you've ever wondered why your loving, well-raised child is struggling socially and no one can tell you why.None of this is about blame. It's about noticing. Once you see the pattern, the shift is surprisingly small.K-Parenting bridges Korean parenting science to Western parents. Korea has a thriving ecosystem of science-backed content — experts, research, cultural wisdom — virtually unknown in English. Find us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.