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Pediatric Social Skills Groups in Speech and Language Therapy
Social skills groups are structured therapy sessions designed to help children develop and practice communication and interaction skills in a supportive, group setting. These groups are typically led by a speech-language pathologist (SLP)and may include children with social communication difficulties due to autism, ADHD, speech/language delays, or pragmatic language disorders.
Goals of Social Skills Groups
- Improving Conversation Skills
- Initiating and maintaining conversations
- Asking and answering questions appropriately
- Staying on topic and taking turns
- Understanding Nonverbal Communication
- Recognizing facial expressions and body language
- Using gestures and eye contact appropriately
- Enhancing Social Problem-Solving
- Learning how to handle conflicts
- Understanding personal space and boundaries
- Practicing emotional regulation strategies
- Building Play and Group Interaction Skills
- Engaging in cooperative play and teamwork
- Sharing, compromising, and taking others’ perspectives
- Developing Self-Advocacy and Confidence
- Learning how to express needs appropriately
- Understanding and respecting different viewpoints
Who Benefits from Social Skills Groups?
Children who:
- Have difficulty making and keeping friends
- Struggle with turn-taking, personal space, or maintaining eye contact
- Need support understanding social cues and emotions
- Benefit from structured social practice in a small group
How Are These Groups Structured?
- Small groups (typically 3–6 children)
- Role-playing and interactive games
- Storytelling and social scripts
- Video modeling and visual supports
- Parent training to reinforce skills at home
