Think Social This Summer
Is your child clueless in social situations? Do they talk at length about topics that are of little interest to anyone else in the group? Do they keep teasing their brother even after they start crying? Are you still setting up play dates for your pre-teen?
Participating in group activities can be daunting for children with social cognitive difficulties. Their challenges can be particularly acute during the summer months when so much time is set aside for fun activities with friends and family. Think Social East Bay’s 6-week summer program teaches children and teenagers between the ages of 6 and 18 what’s required to enjoy spending time in groups.
Option 1: Social learning groups for K-12 th graders: 1.5 hours, once a week. Monday-Friday
- Activities:
- Brainstorming ideas and coordinating progressively more challenging group outings
like going to the park, the bookstore and the bowling alley - Problem solving when things don’t go exactly as planned
- Using prior knowledge in a new context
- Initiating and participating in group activities
- Compromising and negotiating which game to play, which snack to eat and which
video to watch - Communicating effectively about topics everyone is interested in
- Prioritizing and estimating time with the aid of a posted schedule and a timer
Option 2: Teen hangout groups for 6 th -12 th graders: 1.5 hours once a week Monday-Friday
Activities:
- All of the above
- Practicing social networking skills such as making phone calls to arrange outings with
friends - Managing money by making small purchases
- Figuring out who to ask for help
- Uncovering hidden rules in different environments and contexts like figuring out where
to line up at a chaotic bakery - Deciding whether or not to engage in. There are times when it is OK to be a “silent
observer”.