Social Skill Group Therapy Will Help Your Child Thrive
Your child will make friends, have fun, and learn crucial social skills
Kayla was worried about her 10-year-old son, Josh. Although friendly and outgoing, he still struggled to make friends in school. He had been diagnosed with ADHD a year earlier and tended to be too physically boisterous in his play, which made the other kids wary of hanging out with him.
Kayla knew Josh would be a great friend to anyone who gave him a chance–but she also knew he needed to work on his social skills. She signed him up for a social skills group, where Josh would have a structured opportunity to work on things he struggled most with, like listening to others and taking turns.
Although he was nervous at first, Josh eventually grew to love attending his therapy session. Each week, he spent time with the same five kids, playing structured games designed to teach all of them the skills they needed to thrive in social situations.
If you see even a little bit of Josh in your own child, consider signing them up for Skills on the Hill’s social skill group therapy sessions. They’ll have the chance to interact with kids their age as our dedicated pediatric therapists guide them through lessons on social cues, body language, teamwork, and much more.
To find out more about our social skill group therapy program, schedule an appointment at our Washington, DC or Arlington, VA pediatric therapy clinic today!
Who Can Benefit from Social Skill Group Therapy?
Any child who struggles with social skills can benefit from our group therapy program. Having positive experiences in social situations involves a complex, nuanced understanding of how to listen and interact with others. Some key social skills include the following:
- Sharing and taking turns
- Listening actively to others
- Following directions
- Working as a team
- Displaying empathy
- Respecting others’ boundaries
Children develop social skills in different ways and at different paces. Some kids easily pick up these necessary skills by observing the people around them. Other kids may have conditions that make it challenging to learn these skills or put them into practice.
If your child has any of these conditions, they might be a good candidate for social skill group therapy:
- Nonverbal learning disabilities
- ADHD
- Autism
- Speech delays, especially if they struggle with receptive language
- Cognitive delays
That said, even if your child doesn’t have a specific diagnosis, they can still benefit from our program! Any child who struggles to make friends or have positive social interactions is welcome.
What Can My Child Expect During Group Therapy?
We have two goals at our social skill group therapy sessions: for kids to learn new skills and for them to have fun doing it!
That said, a social skills group isn’t the same as an unstructured play date or hangout. Each group includes 3-8 children of similar age and developmental levels, and we’ll provide you with activities and strategies for reinforcing group lessons at home.
Furthermore, one of our specialists facilitates each session and provides structured opportunities for kids to interact, work together, and develop their overall social skills. Here are just a few of the ways this might look:
Lessons and Group Discussions
Our therapists often teach their groups about certain social skills, then provide them opportunities to discuss the topic and put it into practice.
For example, we might explain the concept of empathy to the group, then ask the kids to share their own thoughts about the importance of emotions in relationships. Or we might have the group work on a puzzle after a discussion about taking turns, with each child being given a piece of the puzzle and then taking turns adding it to the whole.
Games and Activities
We always like pediatric therapy to feel like play, so group therapy sessions often incorporate fun games designed to teach kids about a particular skill. For example, the classic icebreaker Two Truths and Lie is a great way to teach active listening. Or we might “gamify” standard social interactions (like introductions) to help reinforce good practices.
Role-Playing Sessions
Finally, we love to give kids a chance to try out their social skills beyond their group therapy interactions. Role-play is a great way for kids to test different everyday situations in a safe environment. We might have kids role-play reconnecting with an old friend, making new friends at school, or deciding what to do with a current friend over the weekend.
Start Building Your Child’s Social Skills Today!
We understand that you may find it challenging if your child struggles to adapt to social situations. And for good reason–poor social skills can cause severe problems as your child grows, affecting performance at school (and, eventually, work) and impacting their ability to form relationships of all kinds.
Fortunately, you can help your child learn the social skills they need through social skills group therapy at Skills on the Hill. Call us to get started today!
Sources:
https://www.rileychildrens.org/connections/could-your-child-benefit-from-a-social-skills-group
https://positivepsychology.com/social-skills-groups/
https://www.understood.org/en/articles/faqs-about-social-skills-groups