Social Pragmatics Groups
Peer Projects - Therapy from the Heart offers small groups and dyads (group of 2) for children as young as age 4. In our groups, we use concepts from RDI® in combination with a curriculum developed by Michelle Garcia Winner M.S., CCC-SLP (Think Social!), and the Zones of Regulation (Leah Kuypers M.A., Ed, OTR/L). We focus on helping children establish self regulation in a group setting first and foremost; with this in place, children can then more efficiently take in information related to social thinking, feel more available and ready to interact with their peers, and assume more independence and responsibility within a social exchange.
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 or not going first, 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 - for example, 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. Parents are provided a copy of our group agenda each week which includes descriptions of our activities, and targeted goals within each part of our routine. We also share lesson content on a regular basis with families to facilitate carryover and discussion outside of the clinic setting. For example, we read social stories together in group and then email copies of these to parents, read story books and highlight for families why a particular title was chosen, send home visuals related to the Zones of Regulation, and help children begin to record socially meaningful memories on personal journal pages. Here are some examples of our topics we may cover with our group members: 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 Play!
Children are placed in a group based on their age, development, learning needs, and areas of strength. Our groups typically consist of 2 to 4 children, but depending on the individual group composition, there may be up to 6 children. Groups of 3-4 children or more are typically supported by two teachers. We try hard to keep groups at these small numbers, and high teacher to student ratio so that we always have time to slow down and focus on process or challenge moments as they naturally occur. We have also found smaller numbers to be important so that the overall noise level is reduced; when there is less noise and less external distractions, children are naturally better able to think through and productively attend to difficult moments.
We currently have several existing groups and dyads for children in the following age groups:
K-1st grade girls (Wednesday at 3:45)
1st grade boys (Tuesday at 3:30)
1st-2nd grade mixed gender group (Saturday at 10:30)
2nd-3rd grade boys (Saturday at 10:00)
2nd-3rd grade boys (Tuesday at 4:30)
3rd-4th grade boys (every other Saturday at 1:00)
3rd-4th grade girls group (Saturday at 1:00)
4th-5th grade boys (Wednesdays at 4:30)
Tween and teen girls group (Saturdays at 8:30)
In addition, we are always open to the possibility of creating new groups and dyads as we meet new families, find appropriate peer matches, and scheduling permits. If you are interested in exploring a group option for your child, please email us at [email protected]. We will be in touch to send you an intake questionnaire and set up an initial meeting to determine possible placement for your child. We are also happy to talk by phone to answer any preliminary questions.
Peer Projects - Therapy from the Heart offers small groups and dyads (group of 2) for children as young as age 4. In our groups, we use concepts from RDI® in combination with a curriculum developed by Michelle Garcia Winner M.S., CCC-SLP (Think Social!), and the Zones of Regulation (Leah Kuypers M.A., Ed, OTR/L). We focus on helping children establish self regulation in a group setting first and foremost; with this in place, children can then more efficiently take in information related to social thinking, feel more available and ready to interact with their peers, and assume more independence and responsibility within a social exchange.
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 or not going first, 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 - for example, 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. Parents are provided a copy of our group agenda each week which includes descriptions of our activities, and targeted goals within each part of our routine. We also share lesson content on a regular basis with families to facilitate carryover and discussion outside of the clinic setting. For example, we read social stories together in group and then email copies of these to parents, read story books and highlight for families why a particular title was chosen, send home visuals related to the Zones of Regulation, and help children begin to record socially meaningful memories on personal journal pages. Here are some examples of our topics we may cover with our group members: 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 Play!
Children are placed in a group based on their age, development, learning needs, and areas of strength. Our groups typically consist of 2 to 4 children, but depending on the individual group composition, there may be up to 6 children. Groups of 3-4 children or more are typically supported by two teachers. We try hard to keep groups at these small numbers, and high teacher to student ratio so that we always have time to slow down and focus on process or challenge moments as they naturally occur. We have also found smaller numbers to be important so that the overall noise level is reduced; when there is less noise and less external distractions, children are naturally better able to think through and productively attend to difficult moments.
We currently have several existing groups and dyads for children in the following age groups:
K-1st grade girls (Wednesday at 3:45)
1st grade boys (Tuesday at 3:30)
1st-2nd grade mixed gender group (Saturday at 10:30)
2nd-3rd grade boys (Saturday at 10:00)
2nd-3rd grade boys (Tuesday at 4:30)
3rd-4th grade boys (every other Saturday at 1:00)
3rd-4th grade girls group (Saturday at 1:00)
4th-5th grade boys (Wednesdays at 4:30)
Tween and teen girls group (Saturdays at 8:30)
In addition, we are always open to the possibility of creating new groups and dyads as we meet new families, find appropriate peer matches, and scheduling permits. If you are interested in exploring a group option for your child, please email us at [email protected]. We will be in touch to send you an intake questionnaire and set up an initial meeting to determine possible placement for your child. We are also happy to talk by phone to answer any preliminary questions.