Social Pragmatics Groups

Peer Projects offers small groups and dyads (group of 2) for children as young as age 3. In our groups, we use concepts from RDI® in combination with a curriculum developed by Michelle Garcia Winner M.S., CCC-SLP (Think Social!). We introduce challenges carefully to give children opportunities to work through differences in opinions, to cope with and recover from disappointments like losing a game, and to build memories of themselves as competent play partners. As a result, children develop positive peer relationships and friendships within the group. The practice we provide with some of the messier aspects of peer interaction (e.g., compromise, negotiation, empathy, being flexible with how a game is played) teaches strategies children can use in their everyday interactions with others at home, in school, or on the playground.

Group content is shared with parents on a regular basis. For example, we may share video clips from group illustrating a concept taught to group members, video clips spotlighting a positive interaction between group members, or video clips that demonstrate a teaching strategy that could be carried over at home. We write stories teaching particular social ideas that are read together in group. These stories are then shared with parents so that Social Thinking® ideas and vocabulary can be reviewed and practiced at home. Here are some examples of our stories: Inviting My Friend to Play, Trying New Things, Thinking about the Volume of My Voice, Being Flexible, Being a Good Sport, and Hopping in to Conversations that are Less Interesting to Me.