Student Voices
"I would tell anybody to come here so they could have more friends."
-Max (Student)
Many children encounter difficulties in acquiring and using social skills. Intelligence and grades alone do not lead to success in life. Instead, getting along with others and forming friendships are associated with success in life! Friendships shape personality and mental health.
Many children encounter difficulties in acquiring and using social skills. Children with language, learning, social skills, and social-problem solving deficits face multiple challenges:
- Often they are rejected by peers and teachers, and even by parents, often unintentionally
- They experience difficulty making positive statements about people and interpreting social situations
- They typically do not understand facial expressions and other nonverbal communication, so social interactions are confusing.
The most critical aspect of social development is shaping social skills through direct instruction, feedback, and coaching that is afforded to each child in real time to assist in learning to regulate their affect. The program also addresses the far-reaching issues of bullying. We explore a bullying curriculum to teach children to consult with others and to empower our children to identify, address, navigate, and be proactive in bullying situations.
