How to assess children's social skills and social relationships among groups of children?

By doing counselling, and by giving various games , to play. 

During the past two decades, a convincing body of evidence has accumulated to indicate that unless children achieve minimal social competence by about the age of6 years, they have a high probability of being at risk into adulthood in several ways (Ladd,2000; Parker & Asher,1987). Recent research (Hartup & Moore,1990; Kinsey,2000; Ladd & Profilet,1996; McClellan & Kinsey,1999; Parker & Asher,1987; Rogoff,1990) suggests that a child's long-term social and emotional adaptation, academic and cognitive development, and citizenship are enhanced by frequent opportunities to strengthen social competence during childhood. 

Hartup (1992) notes that peer relationships in particular contribute a great deal to both social and cognitive development and to the effectiveness with which we function as adults. He states that "the single best childhood predictor of adult adaptation is not school grades, and not classroom behavior, but rather, the adequacy with which the child gets along with other children. Children who are generally disliked, who are aggressive and disruptive, who are unable to sustain close relationships with other children, and who cannot establish a place for themselves in the peer culture are seriously at risk" (Hartup,1992, p.1). The risks are many: poor mental health, dropping out of school, low achievement and other school difficulties, and poor employment history (Katz & McClellan,1997).

Because social development begins at birth and progresses rapidly during the preschool years, it is clear that early childhood programs should include regular opportunities for spontaneous child-initiated social play. Berk and Winsler (1995) suggest that it is through symbolic/pretend play that young children are most likely to develop both socially and intellectually. Thus, periodic assessment of children's progress in the acquisition of social competence is appropriate.  

The set of items presented below is based on research on elements of social competence in young children and on studies in which the behavior of well-liked children has been compared with that of less-liked children (Katz & McClellan,1997; Ladd & Profilet,1996; McClellan & Kinsey,1999).