Planning For Success

Let’s plan for a successful new school year! That’s the focus this month for our clients in the Social Skills Training Program.

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, our focus will be on planning and preparation. We will help our clients establish effective routines to reduce stress and create contingency plans for when things do not go as expected.

Targeted Skills: Coping skills, whole body listening, problem-solving

Sample Activities:

Creating A Schedule

This activity helps individuals by building their independence. We will encourage clients to think of what they need to get done throughout their day and we will provide a checklist that they can use and keep.

Preparing for Unexpected Moments

Knowing what to expect in a social situation can help us feel calm. But what about knowing what to do during unexpected situations? We will have discussions to help clients plan on what to do if they find themselves in situations they did not expect. For example: Finding a class, finding a seat in class, Chromebook isn’t charged, and many more. Talking through each scenario helps prepare clients for how to handle various situations.

Discussing the Hidden Rules

Whether we are in elementary, middle school, high school, or as adults, there are hidden rules we must follow! Hidden rules are rules we are expected to follow, but we learn them through observation (no one specifically teaches these rules). For example, it is expected that students raise their hand, stay in their seat and follow instructions.

These are just a few of the activities we will be doing with clients this month.