The social skills group will work intensively on a range of social skills areas to ensure skills are acquired, developed, enhanced and generalised in preparation for a successful transition to school, as well as participation in preschool and broader environments of the child.

This includes and is not limited to:

• Engagement and relationship development
• Self-regulation/ self-control
• Emotional control
• Reading and understanding own and others emotions
• Social thinking ™
• Sharing/ turn taking
• Asking for help
• Accepting “no”
• Controlling impulsivity

• Object substitution (creativity)
• Suspending reality (imagination)
• Role play
• Communication with all ages
• Personal space introducing self to the play
• Initiation of interaction
• Extending on play themes
• Having fun and knowing the limits to fun and humour

• Matching the appropriate response
• Positivity detector ™
• Showing empathy and compassion
• Understanding thought bubbles vs talk bubbles (knowing what not to say)
• Contextualising to right/ wrong time and place
• Flexibility and negotiation in play attitude

Social skills are the most critical skills in determining success at school and in life, both now and throughout life. Social skills are critical to self-esteem, confidence, focuses and attention, participation for optimal performance, happiness, wellbeing, empathy and compassion, leadership, communication and even written expression at school as well as sequencing and problem solving.