What We Offer to You:

Why are social skills important?

Social skills are a group of skills which people need to interact and communicate with others. Social rules and relations are created, communicated and changed in verbal and nonverbal ways. The process of learning these skills is called socialization. Our social skills provide others with information of how we should be judged, treated perceived and ultimately accepted by society. Appropriate social skills allow us to work as team members, problem solve successfully and behave according to societal rules. Appropriate social skills allow us to create new relationships as well as maintain the old ones. They help us to effectively communicate our wants, needs and desires and to successfully be heard by others. They allow us to be supportive and respectful to peers. They allow us to connect with others and provide us with the ability to feel for someone else. Without appropriate social skills people can become isolated and unaccepted, creating a myriad of other problems which may look like depression, heightened anxiety, ADD/ADHD, academic difficulties, being teased or bullying others and perhaps being completely out casted. Lacking appropriate social skills sets us up for an uphill battle, which we can not help but lose, because we simply do not possess the necessary tools to succeed.

What do we do now?

Fortunately, social skills can be taught just like any other skill. If a systematic approach is taken children can, and will, learn how to interact appropriately. Building Bridges uses a systematic approach. This program is data driven and run by two ABA trained professionals who take a behavior modification approach.

Program outline:

Children are divided into age appropriate groups.  Each group is led by 2 ABA trained professionals.  We make an attempt to have each group hold 4 – 6 children. Group rules are clearly established and then group projects begin. Throughout our sessions, children will practice working together, collaborating, negotiating, improving upon their anger management skills, learn to make eye contact, follow instructions and ultimately celebrate success in completing groups projects. This program is devised to work on social skills in an entertaining way while actively engaging the children. A team approach must be taken in order to successfully complete a project. Turn taking skills, patience, asking for help and encouraging others is practiced during each session. This group allows for parents to network with other parents who may be experiencing similar difficulties. This group also allows for children to be accepted by peers and make friends, which is the ultimate goal for each session.
This program works to teach your child how to use appropriate social skills without being lectured. Instead, they learn from their instructors and peers in a fun way, increasing their self-esteem and providing them with lifelong tools.

Our Goals:

Increase appropriate interaction amongst peers	Learn to initiate conversations
Engagement in activity	Anger management skills
Follow instructions	Improve eye contact
Increase self-esteem	Compromising skills
Conversational skills	Working together
Problem solving	Friendship skills
Cooperation	Turn taking