Social Skills & Structured Play
Social skills are among the most important areas of development for children receiving ABA therapy. Our structured social skills and play programs help children learn to interact with peers, take turns, share, initiate and maintain conversations, and navigate social situations with confidence. Sessions are designed to be fun and motivating while targeting specific social goals.
How We Teach Social Skills
We use a combination of direct instruction, modeling, role-playing, and naturalistic teaching to build social skills. Your child’s BCBA identifies specific social targets based on the assessment — these might include greeting others, asking to join a game, understanding body language, or responding to questions. Skills are practiced in structured settings first, then generalized to more natural environments like playgrounds and classrooms.
Structured Play as a Teaching Tool
Play is how children learn about the world and build relationships. For children who struggle with imaginative or cooperative play, we break play skills into steps and use visual supports, scripts, and reinforcement to help them engage. Over time, children learn to play alongside and with peers in age-appropriate ways — building blocks, board games, pretend play, and physical games.
Building Confidence in Social Situations
Many children we work with experience anxiety or frustration in social settings. Our programs build confidence gradually, starting with low-pressure situations and progressing to more complex interactions. We celebrate every step forward and work closely with families to create opportunities for social practice at home, at school, and in the community.
Key Benefits
- Targets turn-taking, conversation, and cooperative play
- Fun, motivating sessions designed for engagement
- Skills generalized to natural environments
- Reduces social anxiety through gradual practice
- Coordinated with school and family for consistency