Social Development Groups

We offer social competencies groups, based on the Social Thinking Methodology ® (created by Michelle Garcia Winner), to children with social learning challenges. Sessions are aimed at more than just increasing social skills – we support the development of awareness and the understanding of why we work on certain social behaviours. During the group we teach children the underlying thinking behind our social behaviours, and work on developing key ingredients to successful social interactions. All our groups aim to coach children around social issues as well as building social awareness and social smarts.

Our team has extensive experience in child development and works from an attachment-based framework. We use this combined knowledge to inform our approach. Our groups are based on a naturalistic developmental and systemic approach, aiming to support children and their families. Group treatment allows us to provide high quality support for children and education to families at an affordable cost – we believe in breaking down barriers for families to receive the help they are looking for.

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Contact for Winter 2023 Group Registration

– Each group consists of 5 weekly sessions plus one parent education session

– Cost: $500 Portion of psychological services may be covered by insurance

-Contact us to discuss the needs of your child and which groups offers the best fit

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Our Groups

We offer 2 streams of groups: Early Social Learners (ages 4-6) and Social Scouts (Ages 7-10). There are two groups in each stream to build on the skills they learned in the previous group.

Our groups are developed for children with social learning differences. Children who would benefit from these groups include children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, social communication disorder, or social anxiety. Children who do not have a diagnosis but whose parents or teachers think the child could benefit from enhancing their social learning would also be appropriate.

All the groups use a language-based approach. It is best suited for children with average language development and whose developmental age is close to their chronological age. If you are unsure about your child’s skill level please contact us and we will help determine the best (or right) fit for your child.

To adequately address individual needs for families and to provide a rich learning experience, we keep our groups small (approximately 4 children per group). This gives us the flexibility to identify and take advantage of teachable moments.

Early Social Learners Series

Social Explorers

First group of the Early Social Learners series.

Skills we work on: We focus on teaching key concepts to develop and enhance social awareness and competencies:

-what are thoughts and feelings

-where we look impacts how we communicate

-what it means to be part of a group

-listening skills when part of a group.

All the material stems from evidence-based research and will strengthen your child’s perspective taking, self-awareness, and social skills.

How we work on these skills: All concepts, language we use, and how we teach are adapted for early learners. Through fun stories, games, songs, and activities we teach children why certain social skills are important. These concepts are reinforced through play time, where children can practice their skills by interacting with other children.

Early Social Learners Series

Social Problem Solvers

Second group of the Early Social Learners series. Concepts build on what was explored in the first group; as such, children must have completed Social Explorers before entering this group.

Skills we work on: Building on the social awareness and competencies skills in Social Explorers we continue to teach concepts that are at the heart of social interactions. This group also promotes emotional regulation and flexible thinking skills. All the material stems from evidence-based research and will strengthen your child’s social problem solving skills.

Social Scouts Series

Social Scouts A

First group in the Social Scouts series, developed from the Social Thinking Methodology ® (created by Michelle Garcia Winner) and is based on their Social Detective teaching framework from their Superflex ® series.

Skills we work on: This group promotes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness of others, and relationship skills. Core concepts taught include social observation (teaching children what to pay attention to), determining expectations for situations, understanding how people react and respond to others, plus increasing self-esteem by exploring their own thoughts, feelings, and skills.

How we work on these skills: Through developmentally appropriate language, fun stories, games, and activities we help children notice specific social information that in turn builds their social insights. We combine the stories and activities with discussions around how these concepts apply to each participant personally.

Social Scouts Series

Social Scouts B

Second group in the Social Scouts series, developed from the Social Thinking Methodology ®, (created by Michelle Garcia Winner). This group framework is built on the popular Superflex ® series. Concepts build on what was explored in the first group; as such, children must have completed Social Scouts A before entering this group.

Skills we work on: Core social skills continue to be taught and developed including increasing their knowledge of social expectations, awareness of their own behaviour, and how to modify their behaviours with flexible and adaptive strategies.

How we work on these skills: Through the fun concept of superheroes and superpowers we help children build their flexible thinking skills. The group learns about the cartoon character Superflex ®. Then through fun stories, games, activities children find their own superpowers to help understand more about perspective, flexible thinking, problem solving, and how to change their own thinking and behaviour. Through these activities children improve their self-awareness, embrace their personality, and learn ways to regulate that in turn help children meet their social goals.

*Tandem Psychology, including staff, are not affiliated with, nor has it been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by Michelle Garcia Winner and Think Social Publishing Inc.

Concurrent Parent Education

At Tandem we believe that parents are the experts on their children and we strive to include the parent(s) as a partner in their child’s learning. Research shows that parents play a key role in supporting their children’s wellbeing. To empower parents to continue being that pillar of support we run parent education sessions alongside their children’s group participation.

Our approach at Tandem is collaborative, compassionate, and attachment-based; as such, we value the importance of parents learning what social skills are emphasized in the group and the vocabulary we use to teach these skills. When families can use this vocabulary outside of the group it helps develop these concepts further in the home and out in the community.

Children with social learning challenges are taught social behaviours that need to be practiced. These skills may come more naturally to the parent(s), so it can be challenging for them to understand what skills need to be taught and how. Education sessions help parents learn ways to enhance their child’s social skills.

The parent component is as important as the child’s participation so the family can talk about social information and expectations in a clear way. Consistency and practice are key ingredients to ensuring the social competencies are internalized, in addition to your child feeling supported in these new skills they are learning.

Interested in our groups, call us for more information

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