It’s that time of year again! Take a look at what our Floortime Program and Social Skills Training Program will be focusing in August.
Our Floortime Program will focus on Gearing Up for School this month. Our Specialists will help prepare clients for the 2021-2022 academic year through a variety of activities aimed at promoting discussion. Clients can share what they are looking forward to the most such as seeing classmates, playing during recess or their favorite school lunch. The use of visuals and social stories will also be implemented to help clients feel comfortable with the continued safety precautions such as mask wearing and social distancing.
Our Social Skills Training Program will also focus on getting ready for school by encouraging friendship skills and play. Here are some of the activities:
Underlying Principle:
As our clients get ready to start the new school year (whether in person or online) it is important that they be prepared. It is also a good idea to have them understand what social skills are and why using them is important.
Targeted Skills: Making Initiations, Cooperative Play, Self-Regulation
Here are a few things we will be working on to prepare for school:
Greeting Game: For this activity, we will have clients in the group take turns going around the circle and saying “Hi” or have client’s practice what they say when meeting someone. Specialists will provide support and reinforcement.
Cooperative Construction: We will ask a group to work as a team to build a LEGO/block structure: When clients create something together they must communicate, negotiate and coordinate. As a team they can share their work with other groups.
Need a Pick-Me-Up?: If the child struggles to get out of bed in the morning and has a hard time getting ready for school, practice various regulation tools, for example, taking a cold shower, exercising, or thinking about something he/she is looking forward to. Then put a photo/drawing of that activity on her nightstand to get her motivated to start the day.
Planning Ahead: Mornings are often rushed and hectic, which can be frustrating for everyone. Have your child help you make lunches, get the backpack ready the night before. Make a visual schedule for the child’s morning routine so that he/she knows what is expected and follow the plan. Have the child do as much as he/she can to get motivated and organized for the day. This is great for executive functioning and regulation.
