Anonymous
02/09/2026 11:27
Subject: Re:What’s “supposed” to happen in a social skills group?
No manual or curriculumAnonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My DC’s group was always 4-6 boys. Of course, some weeks there may have only been 2 or 3 due to travel or illness, but the vast majority was 4-6.
They played games that were challenging for them, like Sorry or Chutes and Ladders. They discussed things that happened and learned to talk with each other.
Their facilitator was big on link and share. Linking was when the person asked a question that was not technical and sharing was when the answered. So if one of them went to the zoo, they could ask something like what was your favorite animal but not did you see x or what time did you get there. Sharing needed to be non technical too. They were taught to try to link 75% of the time and only share 25% of the time - that way they would end up closer to the 50/50 as most would underestimate their sharing and over estimate their linking.
They went on “field trips”, across the street to the fast food restaurant where they all ordered and paid for their food individually and then sat down and talked. Once they went bowling. These helped them practice different social situations.
As they got older, they would trouble shoot things that happened during the previous week. They had homework to do - like talk to someone a lunch or invite someone over.
The facilitator also held a parent group once a month or so and we mainly trouble shooted things and learned a few parenting techniques. DH and I learned quite a bit and were able to reenforce some of the things DC was learning.
That actually sounds really good. Do you know if there was a manual or curriculum used?
Anonymous
02/09/2026 10:51
Subject: What’s “supposed” to happen in a social skills group?
A big social skill is learning to meet people where they are.
Anonymous
02/09/2026 10:49
Subject: Re:What’s “supposed” to happen in a social skills group?
Anonymous wrote:My DC’s group was always 4-6 boys. Of course, some weeks there may have only been 2 or 3 due to travel or illness, but the vast majority was 4-6.
They played games that were challenging for them, like Sorry or Chutes and Ladders. They discussed things that happened and learned to talk with each other.
Their facilitator was big on link and share. Linking was when the person asked a question that was not technical and sharing was when the answered. So if one of them went to the zoo, they could ask something like what was your favorite animal but not did you see x or what time did you get there. Sharing needed to be non technical too. They were taught to try to link 75% of the time and only share 25% of the time - that way they would end up closer to the 50/50 as most would underestimate their sharing and over estimate their linking.
They went on “field trips”, across the street to the fast food restaurant where they all ordered and paid for their food individually and then sat down and talked. Once they went bowling. These helped them practice different social situations.
As they got older, they would trouble shoot things that happened during the previous week. They had homework to do - like talk to someone a lunch or invite someone over.
The facilitator also held a parent group once a month or so and we mainly trouble shooted things and learned a few parenting techniques. DH and I learned quite a bit and were able to reenforce some of the things DC was learning.
That actually sounds really good. Do you know if there was a manual or curriculum used?
Anonymous
02/09/2026 10:48
Subject: What’s “supposed” to happen in a social skills group?
this doesn't sound like a group at all just the two of them and not a good match. Find a new group with peers with similar needs/focus. Its ok to shop around
Anonymous
02/07/2026 17:32
Subject: Re:What’s “supposed” to happen in a social skills group?
I have a few thoughts.
First, two children is not a group. Unless they plan to add more children into the group as you go, I'd find an actual social skills group.
Second, it is unclear if there are actually different rules about sharing for both girls. It sounds like you are assuming that there is a rule about needing to share if asked that is only applied to your daughter, but you phrase this as a hypothetical of what would happen if the other girl asked your daughter to share. It very well could be that sharing is optional and the social skills goal is to use their words to ask and answer appropriately. Which, by the way, is a common approach.
Third, although it is not uncommon for speech therapists to address pragmatic communication, I have hesitations about a social skills group for children with ASD and ADHD led by a speech therapist. A psychologist or social worker generally has much more relevant training for social skills.
First, two children is not a group. Unless they plan to add more children into the group as you go, I'd find an actual social skills group.
Second, it is unclear if there are actually different rules about sharing for both girls. It sounds like you are assuming that there is a rule about needing to share if asked that is only applied to your daughter, but you phrase this as a hypothetical of what would happen if the other girl asked your daughter to share. It very well could be that sharing is optional and the social skills goal is to use their words to ask and answer appropriately. Which, by the way, is a common approach.
Third, although it is not uncommon for speech therapists to address pragmatic communication, I have hesitations about a social skills group for children with ASD and ADHD led by a speech therapist. A psychologist or social worker generally has much more relevant training for social skills.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 11:48
Subject: What’s “supposed” to happen in a social skills group?
Social skills groups are a waste of time and money when a good match is not ensured.
Unfortunately provides don’t spend enough time finding good matches.
So sessions can become very chaotic!
Unfortunately provides don’t spend enough time finding good matches.
So sessions can become very chaotic!
Anonymous
02/07/2026 11:37
Subject: What’s “supposed” to happen in a social skills group?
It sounds like you need a new group.
My kid went through a 6-week social skills group, and it had zero benefit. He has inattentive ADHD and it actually seemed to have made his underlying anxiety worse. It was a poor match and we realized it too late. The psychologist could talk a good game and really sold us on it, but in practice it was not worth it. The cohort was not a good mix and she wasn't an impressive group facilitator.
My kid went through a 6-week social skills group, and it had zero benefit. He has inattentive ADHD and it actually seemed to have made his underlying anxiety worse. It was a poor match and we realized it too late. The psychologist could talk a good game and really sold us on it, but in practice it was not worth it. The cohort was not a good mix and she wasn't an impressive group facilitator.
Anonymous
02/07/2026 08:26
Subject: Re:What’s “supposed” to happen in a social skills group?
My DC’s group was always 4-6 boys. Of course, some weeks there may have only been 2 or 3 due to travel or illness, but the vast majority was 4-6.
They played games that were challenging for them, like Sorry or Chutes and Ladders. They discussed things that happened and learned to talk with each other.
Their facilitator was big on link and share. Linking was when the person asked a question that was not technical and sharing was when the answered. So if one of them went to the zoo, they could ask something like what was your favorite animal but not did you see x or what time did you get there. Sharing needed to be non technical too. They were taught to try to link 75% of the time and only share 25% of the time - that way they would end up closer to the 50/50 as most would underestimate their sharing and over estimate their linking.
They went on “field trips”, across the street to the fast food restaurant where they all ordered and paid for their food individually and then sat down and talked. Once they went bowling. These helped them practice different social situations.
As they got older, they would trouble shoot things that happened during the previous week. They had homework to do - like talk to someone a lunch or invite someone over.
The facilitator also held a parent group once a month or so and we mainly trouble shooted things and learned a few parenting techniques. DH and I learned quite a bit and were able to reenforce some of the things DC was learning.
They played games that were challenging for them, like Sorry or Chutes and Ladders. They discussed things that happened and learned to talk with each other.
Their facilitator was big on link and share. Linking was when the person asked a question that was not technical and sharing was when the answered. So if one of them went to the zoo, they could ask something like what was your favorite animal but not did you see x or what time did you get there. Sharing needed to be non technical too. They were taught to try to link 75% of the time and only share 25% of the time - that way they would end up closer to the 50/50 as most would underestimate their sharing and over estimate their linking.
They went on “field trips”, across the street to the fast food restaurant where they all ordered and paid for their food individually and then sat down and talked. Once they went bowling. These helped them practice different social situations.
As they got older, they would trouble shoot things that happened during the previous week. They had homework to do - like talk to someone a lunch or invite someone over.
The facilitator also held a parent group once a month or so and we mainly trouble shooted things and learned a few parenting techniques. DH and I learned quite a bit and were able to reenforce some of the things DC was learning.