Some children seem to understand social conventions from a very early age and others have trouble making and keeping friends.

Children can learn social skills, even when they don't seem to come easily. In a social skills group, they can observe, practice, and refine vital skills that will be important throughout life.

Here are some social skills groups that Community Therapy Services offers.

Friendship Connection (ages 9-13)
This group meets at Blazing Prairie Stars farm. Participants learn all about being a good friend. Through individual and cooperative problem-solving activities with each other and the horses, participants will practice social skills in a fun and safe way. As participants work to develop a relationship with a horse and others in the group, they practice communicating, building rapport, respecting others, being assertive, reading the emotions of others, cooperating and compromising.

Chat-room (ages 8-12)
This group was developed for children with diagnoses ranging from learning disability, auditory processing disorder, or high-functioning autism. The group focuses on appropriate social skills and being a good friend using games, free play, arts and crafts. This group is run by a licensed speech-language pathologist.

Preschool Pals (ages 3 to 5)
Here is a group for children whose speech and social skills need a little extra nurturing. This group can be used to augment preschool or kindergarten, or to prepare for those programs. Activities are designed to stress expressive and receptive language, social skills, and pragmatics. Kids delight in fun, new music activities while they practice their newly acquired skills with each other. Run by a speech-language pathologist and a music therapist / child development specialist.

See our Upcoming Events page for scheduling.