Frequently Asked Questions About Our Social Skills Program for Kids
Our social skills program for kids helps children build friendship skills, improve peer interactions, and gain confidence in social settings. Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions about how the program works and what makes it unique.
I hope these answers help you decide if my coaching style and approach are the right fit for your child. If you’d like to talk about your family’s particular situation, I’m always happy to connect by phone, Zoom, or in person.
Which children benefit the most from your programs?
Over the past 23 years, since founding the former Peter Pan Center, I’ve built a unique niche for children and teens with mild social skills challenges.
While my groups include a wide range of cognitive profiles and learning styles, most children in my program have little to no difficulty accessing the academic curriculum at school. My programs are heavily language-based, so participants need solid receptive and expressive language skills and must be able to participate safely and independently in a group of 12 peers.
Importantly, a child should be interested in socializing and motivated to make friends for this approach to be effective.
The programs are drop-off and structured around purposeful unstructured time, using my proprietary in-the-moment social coaching model. We recreate the parts of the day that are often socially tricky—like recess and lunch—providing a supported environment where kids can practice peer interaction skills and build friendships.
Think of the program as a socially supported indoor/outdoor recess or after-school activity—where my team and I are the adults you wish were at every school recess, guiding kids as they interact with peers.
What approach do you use?
Every child is an individual, and I do not use a one-size-fits-all curriculum.
Instead, my incidental teaching approach combines my proprietary in-the-moment social coaching with actionable social language, tips, and phrases that I’ve developed through years of hands-on work with children.
I also bring training in collaborative problem solving, cognitive-behavioral coaching, positive psychology, and bullying prevention to support each child’s growth in the way that works best for them.
What do I tell my child they will be participating in?
Some children are aware that they’d like help with peer interaction and are eager to attend.
If your child is more hesitant about receiving support, you can simply tell them that they’ll be trying a new after-school activity—and let me take it from there!
How will I know how my child is doing?
Most children report that they “just played” or “hung out” each week—which is exactly what I want to hear.
If you’d like to discuss your child’s progress in more detail, you are always welcome to email, text, or call me to schedule a time to chat. I also provide parent and school consultations and TEAM meeting attendance, included with tuition for active participants.
How long before I see improvement in my child’s social skills?
Every child’s progress timeline is unique. Some children may need just a brief social tune-up; others benefit from longer-term support.
In general, when children meet the guidelines for success, they improve and eventually graduate from the program. However, it’s not possible to predict exactly how quickly a child will develop and generalize new skills.
Do all the children in the program have a diagnosis? Will my child learn behaviors I don’t want them to learn?
My goal is to provide as natural a peer setting as possible for children to learn and practice social skills.
The program looks like any typical after-school activity but includes an extra layer of social coaching and support.
If a child has more pronounced special needs or requires intensive behavioral support beyond my scope, I’m happy to assist families in finding the right resources for their child.
Are there children who do not benefit from your program?
While my programs support many children, they are not the right fit for everyone.
My groups typically include 12 children, facilitated by me, a second adult social coach, and a young adult mentor. I cannot provide 1:1 services within the group.
Children who may be better served in a traditional therapeutic setting include those with:
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Significant aggression
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Bolting behaviors
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Oppositional defiant disorder
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Any condition that may present a safety risk to themselves, peers, or staff
My child pushed someone on the playground—is that what you mean by aggression?
No. I understand that occasional, mild outbursts in frustration happen.
Our program can help children learn better ways to handle frustration. If you’d like to discuss your child’s specific needs, please contact me.
How do I enroll my child?
Enrollment is open on a rolling basis as space allows.
The first step is to contact me to schedule a conversation to ensure the program is a good fit for your child.
Your child can try a group session—tuition is only due if you decide to enroll. Enrollment is on a simple month-to-month basis, with no upfront registration or additional fees.
What is your professional background?
Please visit the About page to learn more about my background and experience as a social skills coach.
Are your services covered by insurance?
No. I am a coach, not a licensed therapist, so I cannot bill insurance directly.
However, some families have successfully used Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) or grants to help offset the cost.
I strive to keep tuition costs fair and comparable to private tutoring fees.
Do you offer scholarships?
As a private for-profit practice, I do not have access to funding for scholarships or pro bono services.
Parent Success Story — Social Skills Program Impact
“Coming to your program has positively changed my child’s life more than anything else he has experienced! He has blossomed as a person! He’s developed so many wonderful skills that have made it possible for him to make friends, not just there, but outside of the social group as well. What you are doing there is amazing and so important for families such as mine. I could never say thank you enough! And not just for my son’s sake, but for mine, too. Being a single parent of a child with difficulties with social skills was very overwhelming! I agonized over the pain he felt in daily social situations and often cried myself to sleep over it… Having him attend your program has given him so much confidence, improved his self-esteem, and taught him so many important things that most people take for granted… It gave him the opportunity to put that knowledge into practice in a safe, positive environment.”
— K.J.
Still have questions?
If you don’t see the answer you’re looking for here, please feel free to contact me—I’m happy to talk with you and answer any questions about my social skills program for kids. You can also learn more about supporting your child’s social-emotional learning at Child Mind Institute.
