Social Skills Play Therapy Group for Children (Ages 5-7)
Our Social Skills Play Therapy Group is designed to help children (ages 5-7) develop social skills in a fun, engaging way! Each session includes a 15-minute structured activity followed by 20 minutes of child-directed play, giving your child the chance to learn the skills and then practice them in a supportive setting with other kiddos.
This group aims to help children:
Strengthen both verbal and nonverbal communication skills
Learn how to manage and express feelings in a social setting
Improve self-esteem and confidence through positive social interactions
Build relationships with peers
Group Details
Length: 8 sessions, meeting twice a week for four weeks
Start Date: Parent screenings and individual child sessions will begin in May. The group itself will start the week of June 9, 2025, and will meet either on Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday, depending on availability. The final session will be the week of June 30, 2025.
Parent Check-ins: After the group ends, we will hold individual parent meetings the week of July 7, 2025, to review your child's progress and share helpful resources.
Goals and Objectives
Emotion Regulation: The group will focus on helping children identify and express their emotions in a healthy way. They’ll also practice techniques to manage strong feelings, like using coping tools (e.g., creating stress balls or “coping cookies”) and learning how to self-soothe when they’re upset.
Collaboration with Peers: One of the key goals of this group is to encourage children to work together and share with their peers. Through structured activities, they will practice collaborating, problem-solving, and compromising. The therapist will also guide children through moments of conflict, helping them learn how to repair relationships and build positive associations with teamwork.
Communication Skills: Children will practice expressing themselves clearly and listening to others. The therapist will help them recognize how their words and actions affect others, offering examples of how to communicate more effectively, such as: “Jack, you were so excited to play with that toy that you took it from Jill’s hands. Jill, you’re disappointed that you didn’t get a turn. You can ask Jack if you can have it back.”
Understanding Social Cues: Children will work on recognizing both verbal and nonverbal communication, like body language and facial expressions. This helps them become more attuned to how others are feeling and responding in social situations, making it easier to build connections and navigate relationships.
Building Self-Esteem: As they interact with others, children will gain confidence and a stronger sense of self. The therapist will highlight positive behaviors, like sharing, helping, or expressing emotions, reinforcing their self-esteem through encouraging feedback.
Why It Works
This group is a great way for children to learn important social skills in a natural, fun way. With plenty of play and positive reinforcement, they get to practice communication, collaboration, and emotion regulation while building self-esteem and social confidence! Reach out to Grace Lindahl at grace@inbloomcounseling.net to get your kiddo signed up today.