I’m looking for therapy/group in the NY NJ area that targets kids who are fairly high functioning (not on the autism spectrum) but who aren’t “getting it” socially. My child is 13 now. I have signed him up for many activities over the years to keep him involved with other kids but he’s never connected with any of them. At school he’s an outsider. He has friends who seem to play well at our house but ignore or insult him when they’re in a group at school. He has gone to a social skills group before, but the focus was wrong - it was on being respectful, taking turns, etc., not his issues. I’m hoping to find someone who will take a good look at my kid’s individual profile and work with his strengths and weaknesses. We can’t afford anything requires another (blasted) battery of tests. :wink:
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Msbee
check out this SLP's books
I just attended 2.5 days of social and organizational skills training by Michelle Garcia Winner. It was GREAT!! She does workshops all over the country and specializes in kids with social skills and speech and language impairments. She has books and a DVD that are really good. You may want to incorporate some of her strategies at home and in your neighborhood to help your child.
This is her website: http://www.socialthinking.com/
Re: Social Skills help needed
I have also really enhoyed reading “The Unwritten rules of Friendship” because it gives concrete practical advice. I actually read one chapter with my son, who is old enough to see where his social deficits are (and aware enough of them to want specific advice.)
Re: Social Skills help needed
KarenN,
thanks- Ihave this one on request at my local library and look forward to reading it. I hope age 13 isn’t too late to pursue these issues in earnest. Much of the best information was not available yet was he was younger. Our approaches then were more self-esteem based and/or aimed at keeping him happy a day at a time - he was a handful!
Re: Social Skills help needed
I dont’ think its ever too late to develop skills. I hope not - my son is 11 1/2!….. I’ve sort of given up on some forms of therapy (OT, Speech) because we’ve had to concentrate on more pressing issues. But in terms of learning and practicing social skills, I think for him anyway, its a matter automating skills that are n’t intuitive for him. So we keep plugging away. The advantage of working with an older child is that I can be very direct. I read him the chapter in that book that pertained to him and he really was interested.
Re: Social Skills help needed
Oh! another book I found very helpful for me was ” Best friends , Worst Enemies”. It lays out the typical social hierarchy for kids …
Re: Social Skills help needed
Another great must read is “Raising a thinking Preteen” by Myrna B. Shure PhD. Lots of social skills help.
Re: Social Skills help needed
I also feel that sometimes the child with the lacking social skills is often just a little immature. Once s/he grows a bit more, that does improve to a degree.
My eldest son is 12 1/2 and he attend a ‘social skills camp’ for 2 weeks this summer. He knew what was expected, but still didn’t “get” it. (ie. personal space, reading social cues, etc)
One on one he is fine, but in a group setting, forget it. But, that is coming. Thanks to the others for the book tips.
Jori
Hi, I’m in westchester and I ‘ve heard good things about groups run at NY prespytrian. http://www.nyp.org/