Social Skills Training
Playing well with others
At MeBe, we know from years of experience that good things happen when our kiddos come together—provided the structure and environment are designed according to proven scientific principles of learning and behavior. We embrace the progressive techniques of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) because they give us fun and flexible tools and strategies for group training in social skills.
Busy Bees—early intervention group
Busy Bees meet regularly to work on these skills:
- greetings
- requests to peers
- responding to requests from peers
- parallel play
- pretend play
- cooperative play
- imitation skills and observational learning
- following group instructions
- attending in a group
Busy Bees engage in these activities:
- circle time—songs, books, pre-academic skills
- social games—musical chairs, duck, duck, goose, etc.
- physical activities—gross motor skills and indoor obstacle course
- activity centers—pretend play, sensory activities, fine motor skills, close-ended activities such as puzzles, open-ended activities such as blocks
Surf Monkeys—early elementary school ages
Surf Monkeys meet regularly to work on these skills:
- initiating social interactions
- responding to social initiations
- sustaining social play
- taking turns
- sportsmanship
- following group instructions
Surf Monkeys engage in these activities:
- recess games
- board games
- arts and crafts
- cooking
- activity centers—pretend play, sensory activities, fine motor skills, close-ended activities such as puzzles, open-ended activities such as trains
The Hangout—upper elementary school ages
The Hangout gang meets regularly to work on these skills:
- conversation
- perspective taking
- problem solving
- sportsmanship
- collaboration
- executive functioning
The Hangout gang engages in these activities:
- formal social skills lessons
- physical games—corn hole, ring toss
- cooperative games
- cooking
- unstructured social time
- activity centers—Legos, advanced puzzles, board games
Life Lab—middle and high school ages
The Life Lab squad meets regularly to work on these skills:
- social problem solving
- advanced conversation and communication
- social etiquette (including unwritten)
- social norms in various community settings
- functional community skills (e.g., making purchases)
- navigating social media