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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]We've done two social groups and to be very honest, OP, your child sounds like he has a lot MORE needs than the kids in our groups.

In our first group there were four other kids and I think only one had an autism diagnosis. The other three kids didn't seem to have any obvious special needs in the way you are probably thinking of them. They were outgoing/friendly with parents and with eachother. Once, just once, I saw one of them once get upset about having to go to class but he basically just fell to the ground and cried softly for two minutes and went in and participated fine. All five kids in the class, including ours, are fully mainstreamed.

The second group DS was in was very similar. Could not tell any of the kids had any needs at all.

Whoever is putting the group together should be able to put your DS with kids who have similar needs. They usually work very hard to have a group of kids who will get along and need to work on similar things. If your child wouldn't be a good fit you may want to ask about a dyad--basically pairing your son up with one other child to work on these skills.

Look for social thinking groups rather than social skills groups. Many social skills groups will work on very basic things like giving kids scripts to greet people, take turns, etc. while social thinking ones are usually geared towards more complex issues.

[/quote]

Thank you for the distinction between social skills vs. social thinking -- that is very helpful.  Although it wasn't an official 'therapeutic' tool, my son's old preschool used the dyad concept with him -- there was a boy who was remarkably out-going but also very easy going and they would put him and my son at tables together, in activities together, etc. fairly often.

I want my kid to be the most 'needy' one in the group.  In the past group they happily told me he was often their peer model, which is how I first knew that the group wasn't what I had wanted.    They focused a lot on taking turns, basic manners (saying hello and goodbye, eye contact, etc.), sharing, listening to each other etc. etc. which are all skills that in a group setting my son is more than capable of.  But when it comes to negotiating free play, joining in appropriately, handling play the way someone else wants it, etc. etc. he definitely needs practice.

Ultimately it sounds like my fault for not really understanding the specifics of the group.   This wasn't a situation where there was a great deal of pre-screening.  If your kid was receiving OT, was in the age group, and you paid, you could register.  [/quote]

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