What Are Social Skills Groups and How Do They Help Children?

All of us desire for our children to flourish socially. We see them effortlessly forming friendships, confidently navigating social events, and creating close, healthy relationships. For certain children, social situations may be difficult. That’s where social skills groups can be beneficial. These groups provide a safe and encouraging setting where children pick up fundamental social skills and practice them in a safe setting to form the basis for growing relationships. 

What Are Social Skills Groups? 

Small, therapist-led sessions, tailored to help children grow, enhance, and practice their social skills.

These groups teach: 

• How to start and maintain conversations, listen actively, and properly express oneself.
• How to recognize social signs, understand body language, and decipher others’ emotions to increase social comprehension.
• How to settle problems peacefully, through negotiation and compromise.
• How to develop techniques for controlling emotions, regulating frustration, and handling demanding circumstances.
• How to understand others’ points of view and develop empathy.

How Does a Social Skills Group Function?

Many times, social skills groups combine several strategies, including:

• Role-playing:

Exercise social scenarios in a secure setting.

• Modeling:

Kids can see and copy social skills. They learn from interacting with each other and with their therapist.

• Games and activities:

Participating in lighthearted events is meant to foster socializing in a safe setting. 

• Direct instruction:

Learning certain social skills by means of explanation and demonstration. 

• Feedback and reinforcement: 

Positive reinforcement like getting good comments and encouragement for applying social skills with success, which encourages repetitive behavior. 

Who can benefit From Social Skills Groups?

Social skills groups are especially helpful for children who:

• Experience shyness or social anxiety
• Struggle with social interaction 
• Have difficulty in making or keeping friends 
• Misinterpret others’ feelings
• Struggle with conflict resolution
• Have an autism spectrum diagnosis, ADHD, or another social-emotional difficulty 

Benefits of Social Skills Groups:

• Enhanced social skills: 

Kids learn and practice fundamental abilities needed to successfully navigate through social events.

• Increased Self-confidence:

Children’s self-confidence rises as they improve their social skills.

• Improved communication:

Children pick up greater understanding of others and more efficient expression of themselves.

• Stronger relationships:

Children grow to be able to create and preserve good relationships with peers.

• Reduced social anxiety:

Children who grow confident in their capacity to interact with others have lower anxiety in social events.

• Better emotional regulation:

Children learn techniques for regulating their emotions and reacting appropriately in difficult circumstances.

• Improved independence

Children who grow more socially competent grow more independent as well.

Finding the right group:

While searching for a social skills group, keep in mind: 

• Groups should be age-appropriate, but a small range of ages can be very beneficial.
• The group may have particular social skills as their emphasis.
• The teacher should be a qualified professional, such as a therapist, psychologist, or social worker.
• Smaller groups typically allow for more customized attention.

Social skills groups for kids provide children with an opportunity to acquire the social skills they need to interact with others, create deep relationships, and flourish in their social environment. They can serve as a link to connection, guiding children toward more social ease, confidence building, and improved communication. If you are concerned about your child’s social development, a social skills group can be a positive step toward helping your child create a better social future.