SOCIAL SKILLS ROAD MAP
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What is Social Skills Therapy?
A psychotherapy used to improve the social skills which includes reciprocal conversation, being more mindful of social cues, resolving conflicts, and articulating feelings.
What are the benefits?
Strengthening social skills can help improve peer relationships and overall academic experience. Social skills are becoming even more important in professional careers. Often social skills groups teach important skills through play activities to keep the sessions positive. Groups are monitored and facilitated by therapists.
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What goals can I expect?
Goals are based on the skill level of the children in that group. Often the goals are loosely based. Speak to the provider for more information on what goals they are striving for at that time.
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10 Recommended Social Skills
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Introducing yourself
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Asking for help
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Following instructions
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Staying on task
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Disagreeing appropriately
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Accepting "no" for an answer
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Showing appreciation
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Making an apology
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Controlling Emotions
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Accepting Consequences or criticism
Recommended ages: Depends on how the social group is structured.
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Recommended books:
Social Rules for Kids-The Top 100 Social Rules Kids Need to Succeed
The Social Skills Picture Book Teaching play, emotion, and communication to children with Autism
Providers:
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​Backyard Treehouse
Call: 610-365-8989
*Does not accept medical assistance
Website: http://www.backyardtreehousetherapy.com/#
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Caring Grace Home Care Agency
Services: Offers social skills training sessions for children ages 3-12. This is a new program will build social skills and improve daily interactions with family members, peers and members of the community.
Where: 881 Third Street, Suite B-2, Whitehall, PA 18052
Call: 610-443-1850
Website: http://www.caringgracehomecare.com/services.html
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Easton Hospital
Where: William Penn Outpatient, 3143 William Penn Highway, Easton, PA 18045
Call: 610-250-4233
and
Where: Forks- Park Plaza, 1800 Sullivan Trail (side of the building), Easton, PA 18040
Call: 610-250-8799, option 3
Website: https://www.easton-hospital.org/76/service/rehabilitation-services
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Elwyn (ARCH) Autism Resource Community Hub of Lehigh Valley
Where: 1347 Hausman Rd, Allentown, PA 18104
Social Programs:
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Pre-K Group (Wed 4pm-5pm) Designed for kids agres 4-6 yrs. Emphasis on group activities with reciprocal play and communication. Includes on sharing, taking turns and sharpen listening skills. Group members must be potty trained.
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Elementary Group (at 11am-12pm) Open to kids 5-8 years old who work together to develop verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Learn joining, maintaining and leaving a conversation. Being more adaptable with bullying situations.
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Early Adolescence Group (Sat 0:30am-11:30am) Open to children 9-12 yrs with a focus on strengthening skills to navigate the social complexities of adolescence. Self-regulation, social norms and develop positive peer relationships.
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Young Teens (Sat 10am-11am) Open to teens at 13-16 work collaboratively on targeted social norms. Acquiring and maintaining safe friendships, dealing with bullying and increase self-advocacy.
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Art Therapy meets weekly on Saturday from 11:30am-12:30pm. Open to children 9-13 years with an ASD diagnosis. Address topics like anxiety, depression, emotional regulation and impulse control.
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Dungeons and Dragons social skills group meets Sunday's from 4:30pm-6pm. Great game to promote creativity and imagination. Themes and topics will be dependent on group members.
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The Gamer Social Skills Group to connect players together. Meets Sundays 3:00pm-4:30pm. School age kids and young adults. Players will learn to look critically at cooperative and competitive games to find deeper meanings and life lessons. A positive community in a shared interest.
Call: 610-573-2500
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Galena Autism and Behavioral Services
Services: Social Skills Training is designed to strengthen the social interaction and communication skills of children. The sessions occur in a small group format with other peers. We offer a safe environment intended to equip children with the skills needed to appropriately navigate the social world.
Where: 4877 W Swamp Rd, Doylestown, PA 18901
Email: info@gabsautism.com
Call: 267-454-7357
Website: https://www.gabsautism.com/
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Glen Koch & Associates Social Skills Groups
Main focus is conversational skills, cooperative play, friendships, improving the understanding of non-verbal cues and conflict resolution.
NEW: Adolescent Girls Therapy Group-Thursdays 5p.m.-6p.m. Weekly group is designed to focus on the development of self and address female development issues, family of origin/blended families, understanding parents, marriage and divorce, emotional difficulties including depression and anxiety, dating relationships, LGBTQ issues, peer influence and body image.
NEW: Adolescent Boys Therapy Group-Mondays at 7pm. Address male development milestones and issues that arise during this development stage. Most major insurances accepted $35 out of pocket.
Call: (610) 266-0610
Website: http://www.glennrkochandassociates.com/social_skills_group.html
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Good Shepherd Outpatient Rehab-CenterPointe
Services: Groups are formed based on needs and development level. Initially an evaluation is done. Please contact them to determine dates/times and cost.
Call: 484-788-0701
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Leaps and Bounds Pediatric & Rehabilitiation, LLC
Services: Develop fine and gross motor skills through functional play activities and peer interaction with guidance from physical and occupational therapists.
Where: 230 Ochre Street Suite #2, Lehighton, PA 18235
Call: Please contact labpeds@gmail.com for session cost
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Mission Autism Clinic
Services: They offer a day program for children between 2-6 years old and after school program for kids and teens.
Website: https://missionautismclinics.com/programs
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Pennsylvania Autism Action Center
Services: Their social skills curriculum is a program called "Social Thinking" by Michelle Garcia Winner. This program encourages participants to be social detectives.
Where: 2071 US-209, Brodheadsville, PA 18322
Call: (570) 992-6720
​Website: http://autismactioncenter.com/portfolio/aba/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AutismActionCenter/?hc_location=ufi
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Valley Family Therapeutics
Services: Run by a speech language pathologist with years of experience in running social programs. See more on website. Monday evenings, 7:15-8:15 PM Emmaus location. Cost: $15/session per child $3 discount if you bring a friend to a session! *Ages are flexible!
Ages: 5-10 years old
Where: 551 E. Station Avenue, Coopersburg, PA 18036
Call: 484-863-9220
Website: http://www.valley-family.com/
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Zimzum Consulting Collaboration
Services: We work with child or adolescent in structured settings by building fun, interactive lessons to practice social skills that can be easily generalized to their social world.
Where: 191 Main St. Suite #103, Emmaus PA
Call: (610) 973-5335
Website: https://www.zimzumcc.com/specialeducation
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​Casual Social Recreation:
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Evening Recreation at the Arc
Services: Fun activities that include bingo, games and activities.
When: Most Thursday evenings from 7p.m.-9p.m.
Where: 2289 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA
Call: 610-849-8076 ask for Shalon or Haneef.
**Caretakers are encouraged to stay with participants during events.
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Play Date Tips:
Sending children on the autism spectrum to an unstructured play date often results in a negative experience. Here are some
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1. Begins with evaluating your child's comfort zones.
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2. If you are having trouble finding play mates, check with your child's teacher if your child has any classmates they express interest in or having something in common. Keep it small on a one to one basis.
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3. Talk to the parents of the peer to find out simple activities and interests. Try to match with activities your child is comfortable with. Gross motor activities are a great place to start. Try to avoid games with too many steps that might be frustrating and rather than focusing on teaching the activities, facilitate an activity that the children feel confident about.
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Be prepared and schedule a play date. Keep initial play dates brief, maybe 15 min just under your child's tolerance level. Make sure to have a plan B based on your list of mutual activities.
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Prepare your child by laying down the boundaries and what he/she can expect. If there were issues with previous play dates, talk about alternative ways to handle similar situation. Role playing new activities or potential conflicts can be helpful too.
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Try to anticipate issues and try to eliminate potential barriers or add accommodations. Let the children naturally flow in their play. Stay vigilant and redirect as needed to avoid a meltdown.
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If the play mate is perplexed by your child's behavior, calmly explain why he/she is acting this way. Children are unsure when they don't understand what's going on but are usually flexible when they know what to expect. Also, try to make sure the play date is fun for the other child so they will want to come back.
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When the play date is over, review as needed on what worked well and what didn't. Discuss alternate choices like turn taking. Concentrate on one skill at at time as to not overwhelm a child.
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Keep it 1:1 and take your time incorporating new play mates or unstructured activities. Make sure your child is making good progress in building "give and take" skills.