Social Skills Groups
Building Communication, Friendship, and Social Confidence
Adora Bright Pediatric Therapy Services – Richmond Hill
Adora Bright Social Skills Groups provide structured opportunities for children and early teens ages 3 to 16 to develop communication, peer interaction, and emotional regulation skills in supportive small-group environments. Located in Richmond Hill, these groups support children with autism, ADHD, developmental differences, or social communication challenges who benefit from guided opportunities to practise interacting with peers. Through structured activities, role-play scenarios, cooperative games, and therapist-guided discussions, children learn how to connect with peers, navigate social situations, communicate ideas and emotions effectively, develop confidence in group environments Groups are organized by developmental stage, allowing children to practise age-appropriate social skills with peers at similar developmental levels.
Play Foundations (Ages 3–5)
Turn-Taking & Cooperative Play
Young children practise foundational social interaction skills through structured play routines, guided games, and joint attention activities.
Activities may include sharing routines, imitation games, simple play sequences, and cooperative play experiencesthat encourage engagement with peers.
Targets:
Early peer interaction, imitation, flexible play routines
Group Participation
Children learn how to participate in group activities similar to early classroom environments.
Activities focus on following group instructions, participating in circle time routines, waiting for turns, and transitioning between activities.
Targets:
Listening skills, regulation in group settings, classroom readiness
Social Builders (Ages 6–9)
Conversation Skills
Children practise starting and maintaining conversations with peers.
Activities focus on asking and answering questions, taking conversational turns, maintaining topics, and responding appropriately during interactions.
Targets:
Expressive language, reciprocal communication, confidence
Perspective-Taking
Children learn to recognize and understand the feelings and perspectives of others through structured discussions and social problem-solving activities.
Activities may include identifying facial expressions, discussing social situations, and exploring how actions affect others.
Targets:
Empathy, flexible thinking, emotional awareness
Coping & Flexibility
Children practise responding to challenging social situations in constructive ways.
Activities may include learning how to manage frustration, respond to winning and losing during games, and practise coping strategies during peer interactions.
Targets:
Emotional regulation, resilience, social flexibility
Tween & Teen Social Confidence
(Ages 10–16)
Group Discussions
Older participants practise sharing ideas, expressing opinions respectfully, and engaging in meaningful conversations with peers.
Activities encourage active listening, thoughtful responses, and managing disagreements during discussions.
Targets:
Social maturity, communication clarity, self-advocacy
Boundaries & Social Awareness
Children and teens learn about personal boundaries, respectful interaction, and understanding social expectations in different environments.
Discussions may include personal space, social rules, friendships, and digital communication awareness.
Targets:
Safety, confidence, real-world readiness
Real-World Practice
Participants practise applying social skills through role-play scenarios, cooperative team challenges, and simulated real-world situations.
These activities help children generalize social skills and build confidence navigating everyday environments such as school, friendships, and community activities.
Targets:
Generalization of skills, independence, executive functioning
Program Format
Adora Bright Social Skills Groups are designed to provide consistent opportunities for skill development and peer interaction.
Program structure includes:
• 8-week program cycles
• Small group format (4–6 participants)
• 60–90 minute sessions
• After-school and weekend program options
Small group sizes allow children to practise social interaction in supportive environments while receiving guidance and coaching from therapists.
Typical Session Structure
Each session follows a predictable and structured format to help children feel comfortable and prepared to participate.
Sessions may include:
• structured warm-up activity
• skill modelling and guided practice
• role-play or cooperative challenge
• reflection and group feedback
• parent summary or communication when applicable
This structure helps children understand expectations, practise new skills, and apply them during real social interactions.