FACES Social Development Groups target social skills for children age 2-18 years. While typically children learn appropriate social skills through their day-to-day interactions, children on the autism/aspergers spectrum may require special instruction and targeted practice to acquire skills to be successful at home, school, and with peers.
Our social development services incorporate many strategies and curriculum. Primary influences and curriculum used include:
Social Butterflies
The Social Butterflies program is designed for preschool age children who have beginning language skills and emerging play skills. Children who have language or cognitive delays need to develop observational skills to read the environment and pick up clues regarding the expectations.
The Social Butterflies program provides a structured play-based learning environment. The program focuses on building the skills necessary for success in preschool settings.
Targets include the development of interactive play skills, pragmatic language, imaginative play, early cause-and-effect thinking, referencing the environment, requesting assistance, and transitioning between activities
Social Learners
The Social Learners program is designed for school age students (elementary through high school) with social cognitive deficits.
The Social Learners program focuses on understanding the complexities of the social world across environments and relationships by not only learning the skills necessary for perspective taking, but learning why these skills are necessary. It is important for students to understand how these skills allow them to navigate the complex social world and the positive effect it will have in their lives.
Problem solving and perspective-taking strategies are practiced to help students understand the complex cause-and-effect relationship their behaviors (positive and negative) have on their environment. Coping strategies are taught to help students self-monitor their physical and emotional reactions during undesired activities at school, home or in the community.
Information & Enrollment
E-mail Laura Martinez at lmartinez@facesforkids.org or call 650-367-1560 ext 115 to set up an initial meeting to find out more information about our social development programs.
Students will be placed into groups by age and skill level. Groups are designed for 3-4 children, but may be as small as two.
Sessions last 60 minutes (50 minute group session and 10 per minute parent update).
Sessions are held weekly excluding the FACES holiday (the week between Christmas and New Years) and for the national holidays (Labor Day, 2 days at Thanksgiving, President’s Day, Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day). Applicants must make every effort to attend on a weekly basis.
On the rare occasion that everyone is absent from the group except for one child, we will still hold the session, but it will be an individual session to focus on your child’s specific needs.
