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Social Skills Groups

We now offer fun, effective therapeutic 

social skills groups led by our experienced

Speech-Language Pathologists! 

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Our groups are appropriate for children ages 3 and up, and they are organized by age. During groups, we will target various age-appropriate social skills, including but not limited to taking turns, waiting, personal space, conversational skills, perspective-taking, losing/winning gracefully, and expected/unexpected behaviors. Lessons will be tailored to the needs of the group.

 

Using a proprietary blend of Social Thinking® concepts and materials along with other evidenced-based approaches, we will assist your child in meeting social communication milestones that will support their ability to learn in a group environment and maintain relationships with the peers and adults in their lives.

 

Groups will occur weekly in our spacious, kid-friendly sensory gym. We will incorporate movement into every session to keep our attendees engaged. Join us for fun-filled learning experiences!

The Inherent Benefits of Group Therapy

Group therapy offers a unique opportunity for your child to target classroom skills in a smaller setting with knowledgeable, patient professionals. Skills such as turn-taking, waiting, peer interaction, and following directions are targeted incidentally in a group setting, in addition to the goals your child will work towards. Children look forward to social group week after week and view it more as a play group than therapy. Wondering if your child can benefit? See below to see if they are on target with their social communication development.

Girls in Painting Class

Social Communication
Milestones

3–4 Years

  • engages in longer dialogues

  • anticipates next turn at talking

  • terminates conversation; appropriately role-plays

  • uses fillers—such as “yeah” and “okay”— to acknowledge a partner’s message

  • begins code-switching and uses simpler language when talking to very young children

  • uses more elliptical responses, such as “Mommy went home, I didn’t”

  • requests permission

  • begins using language for fantasies, jokes, and teasing

  • makes conversational repairs when not understood and corrects others

  • infers information from a story and infers indirect meanings

  • uses primitive narratives—events follow from the central core

  • uses inferences in stories

4–5 Years

  • uses indirect requests; correctly uses deictic terms (e.g., this, that, here, there)

  • uses twice as many effective utterances as 3-year-olds to discuss emotions and feelings

  • uses narrative development characterized by unfocused chains—stories have a sequence of events but no central character or theme

  • develops basic understanding of theory of mind, including judgment that another person may have a belief that differs from the truth

  • shifts topics rapidly

  • shows fantasy schemes in play

  • understands that beliefs can result in predictable emotions

  • understands that someone may feel the same way when experiencing a similar event

  • uses co-missives/promises

School-Age Years (6–12 Years)

  • demonstrates increased understanding of theory of mind (predicting what one person is thinking about what another person is thinking or feeling; understands strategies to hide deceit, recognizes sarcasm)

  • provides assistance and demonstrates altruism

  • uses narrative development characterized by causally sequenced events using “story grammar”

  • demonstrates improved conversational skills (e.g., topic maintenance, repair, and increased number of turns)

  • extends topic of conversation

  • demonstrates refined social conventions

  • demonstrates metapragmatic skills—child is able to think about social and conversational rules

  • uses language for varied functions, including persuading and advancing one’s opinion

  • understands that people can feel multiple emotions at the same time

  • practices increased self-regulation

  • uses indirect requests

  • uses inferential language

  • uses ambiguous language (figurative)

  • uses sarcasm

  • uses double meanings (puns)

Older Adolescence Into Adulthood

  • uses verbal and nonverbal language competently and flexibly

  • navigates multiple registers flexibly and fluidly

  • demonstrates refined understanding and use of nonverbal behavior

  • can explain idioms and nuanced figurative language

  • develops close friendships and romantic relationships

  • continues to develop empathy

Group Specifics

  • Who leads the groups?

Social Skills groups are facilitated by a licensed speech-language pathologist and a therapy aide. 
 

 

  • Can I use my insurance?

Yes, however, coverage is at the out-of-network level and submitting for reimbursement is your responsibility. We are happy to provide paid invoices as needed.
 

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  • What is the cost?

We require a 6-week commitment and the cost is $300.
 

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  • How long are groups?

Groups are 45 minutes each and will occur on the same day/time every week.
 

 

  • What is the group size?

We maintain the integrity of our groups with a low student to staff ratio. Groups consist of a maximum of six children.

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  • How do I register my child?

Call 732-639-1551 or email us info@littlebirdsspeechtherapy.com to join the fun!

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