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Weekly Social Skills Groups Enrollment Open

10 Tips to Increase Self-Esteem

Self-esteem can take a hit among children & teens who have social challenges. What can be done to increase their self-esteem? Check out these 10 tips.
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Small Steps Lead to Big Progress

Kids can become “locked” by anxiety and an inability to connect with others. Here is a true story of a 9 year old boy who took small steps to make…
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When Bluster Goes Badly

Blustering can happen when kids feel uncomfortable socially. These same kids can’t read social cues and they send unintended negative messaging to potential friends.
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Join Our Team!

Job Openings: Social Coaches and Social Coach Assistants Needed Our program is looking for qualified social coaches and social coach assistants for our in-person groups (Tyngsboro, MA).
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Let’s Chat About ADHD

Join us for a casual discussion about ADHD from a college senior who will share his journey from age 10 – 21. Nadine and Trent Briggs of Simply Social Kids…
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Basics of How to Read Social Cues 2024

Basics of How to Read Social Cues in 2024

The topic of reading social cues is extensive, with numerous books dedicated to it. This video aims to provide fundamental tips to help you begin understanding social cues. We cover…
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Navigating Friendships through the Phases

Much like the moon momentarily obscuring the sun, friendships go through phases of light and shadow, growth and retreat. Let's embark on a journey through these phases, drawing parallels between…
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Woman looking incredulous with video title why don't they care about me ...or should I care about them

“Why don’t they care about me?!”

Kids with social challenges do not understand what friendship is at its core. Once they learn that friendship is reciprocal, they can begin to modify the way they interact and…
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Why Teens Need Other Teens

Kids with social challenges do not understand what friendship is at its core. Once they learn that friendship is reciprocal, they can begin to modify the way they interact and…
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How to Create Social Goals with Teens

Setting goals can help teens focus on what they want to achieve socially. Setting goals can help teens focus on what they want to achieve socially. Otherwise teens might flounder…
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How to Shred Negativity

Ruminating on the bad things can lead to bitterness but choosing to focus on what is going well, can help build resiliency. Help your child choose resiliency.
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The Specialness of this Space

Simply Social Kids has been deep cleaned, an air filtering system is in place, plenty of hand sanitizer available, and we are ready for action. Join us beginning July 6th.…
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Two Tales of Timmy

The Two Tales of Timmy By Nadine Briggs This story is about a teenage boy who we will call Timmy. I first met when Timmy came to Simply Social Kids…
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Small Talk and Sharing Interests

Many kids don’t understand the value of small talk. They would rather not talk about things that are obvious because they don’t see the point. If it recently snowed, for…
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two teenagers sitting together reading body language

Reading Social Cues

Reading social cues can be tricky for many because of all the subtle ways that we express ourselves. We communicate with the words we choose, but also the position of…
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Overthinking Social Responses

Most children and teens with social challenges also have issues with anxiety. The anxiety can lead to an overabundance of “what if…” thoughts. Kids who have an opportunity to socialize…
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Kids Who Crave Control

One of the most common issues that we hear from parents when they contact us for friendship coaching is that their child or teen tries to control social interactions. They…
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When There is No Do-Over

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs The ability to offer a do-over during a contested call in a social game is a skill that many children need to learn. Do-overs…
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Halloween Ideas for 2020

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Disclaimer: The ideas in this blog are based on recommendations from town officials to have a safe Halloween for everyone who chooses to participate…
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Good Nuggets are Gold Nuggets

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs We (Donna and Nadine) were emailing back and forth this week, just checking in on each other during these strange and, honestly, unpleasant times.…
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The Value of Venting

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Today’s youth are dealing with a tremendous amount of frustration and even fear during the pandemic. Their lives are completely different now in so…
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Food for thought

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Social coaching is about observing the obstacles that are getting in the way of a child or teen, and depending on the nature of…
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Address the Action, Not the Person

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs My (Donna’s) nuclear family crew have historically not been the greatest of communicators, leading to conflicts and misunderstandings. We have agreed to, and have…
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Shared Feelings Can Ease the Burden

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea The return to school in the fall of 2020 is so incredibly challenging for all involved. Never have we needed more compassion and understanding…
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Do The Work of Friendship

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Friendships don’t just happen. Well, maybe there is that occasional friendship at first sight. And even then, in order for that friendship to grow…
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6 Tips for How to Spend Social Energy

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea We’ve blogged many times about the reciprocal nature of friendship. As part of forming truly meaningful connections, each of us needs to decide which…
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WH Questions

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Conversation skills are something that many parents ask us to work on when we are social coaching kids. The ability to initiate and sustain…
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Keeping Friendship Court?

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Over the last week, I’ve had a few families tell me that their child will not do anything to try to make friends. The…
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Learning to Tolerate Distress

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I (Donna) recently had an outdoor (physically distant but felt so awesomely normal) coffee with a new friend of mine who I met through…
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Pandemic Peer Pressure

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea New social pressures are occurring as people are interacting during this pandemic. We might have differing comfort levels when it comes to physical distancing.…
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Letting Kids Feel Their Feels

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Parents are faced with extremely challenging choices this fall as kids return to whatever school looks like for them. The same is true for…
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Life in Minecraft™ Mode

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Since the advent of the pandemic back in March, we have all been forced into changes of seismic proportions. What we thought would be…
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Stop Really Means Stop

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I’m sitting here running a Zoom Room activity where the kids are playing Roblox together. We also have scheduled times when they play Minecraft.…
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Finding Kindness During Crisis

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Fairy: Tammy Fannon Photo Credit: Mackenzie Fannon During times like these, we all have to make a choice. Sometimes the crisis has a direct…
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It’s All Okay

By Donna Shea and Nadine Briggs It’s all okay. No matter what feeling you have right now, at this moment. It’s okay. Is it anger? It’s alright to feel anger…
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4 Tips to Lay Resiliency Groundwork in Your Family

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Note: A version of this article was originally published in the MGH Down Syndrome  Program newsletter, COVID-19: Self-Care Saturdays on May 2, 2020. In mid-March, the pandemic resulted…
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Our Program is Now Online

All of our social resiliency groups have transitioned online! We hope to be back at our center soon but in the meantime, friendship will not be canceled.  Contact us if…
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The Messiness of Misperceptions

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Reading the intent of another person during social interaction can be tricky. The children, teens, and young adults who attend our centers have a…
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A Healthy Sense of Shame

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs When I (Donna) was 5-years-old, I got caught shoplifting. We were at a local vegetable and fruit stand and I saw one of those…
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Because I Said ______.

By Donna Shea and Nadine Briggs Most adults would fill in that blank with “so.” “Because I said so” is a phrase that kids hear pretty frequently. In my experience,…
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Learning to Let Go of Grudges

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea January is a time for resolutions and promises of fresh starts in the new year. It can also be a great time to let…
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Santa’s List

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs It’s a high-anxiety time of year for kids. Let’s think about it from their standpoint. Many of them are being watched by an Elf…
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The Ever-Evolving Plan

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs This is a true story about flexible thinking, a skill that is one of the hardest ones for many of the kids at our…
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Thanksgiving Survival Tips

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Both of us are veterans of stressful family gatherings. I (Donna) can tell you that I never attended a family gathering that looked like…
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Reflecting on My High School Bully

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea The release of our latest book, Bully Busting and Managing Meanies: Tip for Kids on Managing Conflict, prompted me to think back on my…
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Find Your Kind

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Today is World Kindness Day. It is also Red Sweater Day in honor of Mr. Rogers, one of the kindest and most genuine people…
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Trick or Treat

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs It’s the week of jack-o-lanterns, costumes, candy, and scary fun. For those kids who participate in Halloween festivities, the excitement can be almost too…
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Relationship Balance – Dishes and Laundry

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea One of the most common friendship struggles we see at our social skills centers is that kids/teens don’t understand that friendships need balance. If…
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Vengeance Doesn’t Pay

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea When kids are being teased and harassed, they become so angry and upset that many of them start plotting their revenge on the offender.…
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Get Your Mind Out of the Sewer

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I (Donna) recently experienced a loss of what Nadine and I refer to as our “sparkle.” That positive vibe that we bring to life…
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Kindness in a Paraguayan Flag

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea My son (Nadine’s), Trent is a college junior and he rented an on-campus apartment with 3 other guys this year. Three of the four…
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4 Tips on When to Stop Talking

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea As we start a new school year, social groups have also begun and we start off by asking kids what would they like to…
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Thunder Stealing

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs When I (Donna) was recently teaching a sportsmanship workshop at my center, the old idiom of stealing someone’s thunder came up in the conversation.…
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3 Tips to Give a Friendly Impression

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Walking into a new social setting can be intimidating and even anxiety-provoking. If you don’t know the people who are going to be there…
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Jive with the Vibe

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Each social skills group that we run has its own unique energy and vibe. The feel environment is driven by the people in the…
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Watch Out For Your De”mean”or

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs As our bullying workbook launches, I’ve been thinking about the kids that I have met as a social coach that, for whatever reason, lead…
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I Don’t Summer Well

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs “I don’t summer well.” That’s what my (Donna) younger of my two sons said to me the other day. And you know what, he…
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Control Collapses

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Many parents of kids and teens who attend our centers will tell us that their child is friendly, interested in socializing and are able…
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Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide

By Donna Shea Friends, we have a problem we need to talk about. The launch of our new anger workbook for kids has been exciting to see our work being…
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Kindness Always Wins

By Nadine Briggs I am generally a very positive and upbeat person but today I feel angry. I am angry because someone did something to a very dear friend of…
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When Teens Don’t “Got it”

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Teenagers who have social struggles sometimes have no awareness of their challenges. As adults, we watch them implode, socially cringing all the while. Observing…
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Let the Last Word Be “Whatev”

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs In recent social groups, we’ve been talking about how the need to have the last word increases conflict to flammable levels. I’ll watch two…
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When a Bad Mix is Good

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea About a year ago, I (Nadine) had two teen boys in a social group together who did not get along. Despite their obvious dislike…
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Cookies are a Coping Mechanism

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs We both find ourselves in the midst of several different crises happening at the same time to our family or close friends. Anytime life…
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Hitting the Pause Button

It’s been quite a while since you have heard from us. We have all had to adjust and respond to the medical emergency we face in our communities, states, countries, and the…
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What do kids worry about?

This is a question that I (Donna) asked the kids in my social groups. We came up with a list: Tests and getting bad grades; What people think about you;…
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Light It Up Blue or Red Instead?

Light It Up Blue or Red Instead? By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Lately, I have been talking to several teenage boys who have a diagnosis of high functioning autism…
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Modern Manners 101 – Ghosting is Rude

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Ghosting: the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication. (Source, Google Dictionary) While the…
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Blogless in Massachusetts

By Donna Shea Nadine has been away on a trip of a lifetime, in Italy. She’s on her way back home now, and I am so excited she and her…
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Defending Your Beliefs

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Finding the right tone to strike when defending a belief can be tricky and, quite honestly, takes a lot of practice. If the topic…
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Company Does Not Want Misery

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I (Donna) mentioned the title of this blog to a kid who came to his social group in a grouchy mood. He was miserable.…
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Gratitude is a Sleep Aid

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I’ve always had difficulty sleeping (Donna). Being one of those people that comes wired with anxiety, I would frequently find myself awake in the…
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Tricky Triangles

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs We all know what a love triangle is (who hasn’t read a good romance book?) There are other types of triangles that human beings…
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I was skeptical at first, too.

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Our work has become infused with positive psychology. A few years back, Nadine would tell me things about positive psychology and mindfulness and my…
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What is Your Parental Self Care?

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Recently I (Nadine) was asked “what do you do for self care”? It’s a question that I had not been asked before, but I…
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What does “be good” mean anyway?

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs This is a re-posting from a blog we wrote last December.  Tis the season, and for those families who celebrate Christmas, there is the…
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Middle School IS Awkward

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs As I chatted with a new-to-my-social-group and middle school 6th grader, words came to mind. Awkward. Self-conscious. Body-conscious. Anxious. Friends who are no longer…
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He Just Has to Learn

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs He just has to learn: to be responsible; to listen; to turn in his work; to sit still; to pay attention; and to focus.…
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Tattle Tale, Tattle Tale

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs All kids, at some time or another, tattle. Some kids are consistent, reliable informants. The problem with tattling is that it doesn’t win you…
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A Quick Tip to Feel Happier Today

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Most of the children and teens that we work with have anxiety. Many crave a high degree of control over all things, play, conversation,…
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A Text Is Not An Emergency

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I (Donna) know a tween who just received her first cell phone. In actuality, it’s more of the fact that now she just doesn’t…
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Letting the “Settling in” Settle

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Social groups are back in full swing with kids, teens, and adults of all ages coming to learn how to connect and become more…
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Pushing Through What Scares You

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs NOTE: This is a post that I (Donna) put up in a hiking group that I belong to on Facebook. Anxiety impacts people of…
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Tips on How to Manage Transitions

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Many of the kids we work with struggled greatly with transitioning from one thing to another. Transitions such as going to bed at the…
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Inner Power and Peace – It’s Within You

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea A close friend of ours is going through an extremely challenging and life-altering event. As people who have both also experienced life-altering events, we…
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Accentuate the Positive

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs What good thing happened today? That is a question that my (Donna) significant other Mike and I are working into our daily conversations. We…
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Spreading Positivity Worldwide

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea I (Nadine) had the pleasure of being part of a very exciting movement. I spent last week in Fort Worth, Texas at The World…
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A Piece of Cake

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I (Donna), spent the last week on a vacation that was predominantly centered around hiking the White Mountains in New Hampshire. I’ve noted the…
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Calming the End-of-School Anxiety

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Have you perhaps noticed that your child may be a little bit more irritable, stressed or disregulated in the last few weeks? It could…
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“Ick” Management

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs There are times in all friendships when “icky” moments occur. There are times in business relationships when “icky” moments occur too. The potential for…
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How We Prepare for a Teen Competition

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea An epic battle is coming this Friday. Nadine’s center, Simply Social Kids, is hosting Donna’s center, The Peter Pan Center for a game of…
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Probably or Possibly?

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs One of the strategies in our anxiety workbook is to consider whether something may possibly occur or probably happen. I’ve been employing this technique…
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When do the adults come into “play?”

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I’ve spent several pleasant mornings and evenings in the month of March presenting workshops for various extended school day programs. I love talking to…
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It is More Important That I Listen

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I (Donna) just finished reading the book “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth. This quote she used from a parent…
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A Good Sport Plays By the Rules

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea During a social group last week, a group of 9 year old boys decided to have a “Connect 4” tournament. They had figured out…
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The Secret to Friendship

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Have you ever considered why your friends are your friends? What is it about those particular people that draws you toward them and them…
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Perspective for Pessimists

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I’m (Donna) finishing up a specialization in Positive Psychology through the University of Pennsylvania. Nadine already has hers. It’s fascinating in so many ways…
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A Clean Slate – Tarnish or Polish?

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea When new kids join a social group, they come with a clean slate. Whatever social gaffs that occurred in other settings are unknown to…
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With gratitude…

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea As this year comes to a close, we are reflecting on our journey with How to Make and Keep Friends. We are so deeply…
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Double Jeopardy

By Nadine Briggs & Donna Shea Note: The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution states that no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life…
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Be an Orange

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs In coaching kids who sadly find themselves being on the receiving end of mean teasing, the most important lesson that we can give them…
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Disrespect is not a Disability

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs An occasional child comes through my door (Donna) that uses their disability as an excuse for poor behavior. “I can’t help it, I have…
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What do you see when you see me?

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea I (Nadine) was interviewed by a magazine this past week and asked a question I don’t think I’ve ever been asked before. What was I…
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Sip by Sip and Day by Day

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea We have decided in our many years of friendship, that we pretty much share one brain. We also find, as time goes by, that…
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Who to Believe

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea This week, I (Nadine) heard a disturbing account of bullying in a local elementary school. The bully is terrorizing the kids at recess. He…
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What’s your People Plan?

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I (Donna) observe many kids in my social group that tend to gravitate toward an individual or isolating activity. This week, I had a couple of…
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Let’s Have a Grudge Smudge

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs There is a traditional Native American ceremony called smudging. It’s mainly used for homes and houses, to clear any bad feelings and negativity before…
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Sensory Friendly Tag Game

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Recess is a time for children to run around, have fun and socialize. For some kids, recess is more stressful than rejuvenating. It can…
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Friendship Fixations

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea When kids have difficulty forming strong friendship connections, they tend to hold on more tightly to the friends they do make. A healthy amount…
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How to End a Friendship

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs For two people who focus on supporting kids with making and keeping friends, it may seem counter-intuitive for us to discuss ending a friendship.…
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Mama Bear, Move out of the Way

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs, We are two pretty fierce mama bears when it comes to our sons and daughter. Surely, the same is true of all mothers, whether…
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Putting Out a Hair-on-Fire Moment

By Nadine Briggs & Donna Shea For people who struggle with anxiety, they can routinely experience what we refer to as “hair on fire” moments. This week at my social…
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Gritty is Good: Bonus Feature Update

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea On April 30th of this year, I (Nadine) wrote a blog (http://www.howtomakeandkeepfriends.com/kids-come-bonus-features/) about some recent struggles that my daughter was having recently. She is…
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Taking a Moment: Three Good Things

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Summer is a time to enjoy the warmer weather and take a little time off from work. As a business owner, taking true time…
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Feeling Fearless

By Donna Shea and Nadine Briggs I (Donna) have personally dealt with anxiety most of my life. I was born with an anxious wiring system. It has ebbed and flowed…
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The Sweetest Thing Ever

The Sweetest Thing Ever By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea with guest contributor Jesse Lowe. Both Donna and Nadine hosted events for the kids and teens who attend their centers…
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Assume Anxiety

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Anxiety is the root cause of many of the struggles that I see the kids experience each week in group. Some of what I…
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Be the Quarterback

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I was talking to a neuropsychologist on the phone about one of our mutual clients the other day. I mentioned how Billy would always…
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When Kids Come with “Bonus” Features

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea When my daughter, Megan, was born I quickly became used to terms that would be used to describe my baby, like “global developmental delays”…
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The Ones that Get Away

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Virtually all the kids we work with struggle with some form of anxiety. We live in a social world so it makes sense that…
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3 Ways to Eliminate Entitlement

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs One of the greatest challenges brought to us by educators is how to handle children who carry a sense of entitlement. The many ways…
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Social Lessons from a Cavapoo

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Pets can communicate very clearly using the only means they have. They don’t speak our human language but are able to let us know…
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I Am Not Invisible

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I (Donna) just got back from a trip to Disney. I expected crowds. I expected long wait times and having to be patient in…
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Unintended Social Messages

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea We often describe our social coaching with kids as we “state the obvious and connect the dots”. For those who are adept at reading…
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The Price of Nice

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs I’m working with a tween girl whose story tugs at my heart, and hits me in a bit of my soul. She is a…
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Sometimes Awareness Starts with a Snack

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs A great deal of time and energy go into creating behavior plans for socially and behaviorally struggling kids. The majority of plans that we…
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When Life Feels Heavy

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Sometimes life just feels extra heavy. Certainly, the mood of our country has held a heaviness for those people who feel uncertain about the…
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Parents Need to Press Pause Too

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Parents come to us all the time asking for help with their kids who are rigid, have anger issues, are unforgiving, or unable too…
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Sometimes it IS your kid.

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Parenting hindsight, as any other hindsight, is always 20/20. What do you wish you could go back and say to yourself as a parent?…
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Have You Been Good All Year?

By Nadine Briggs and Donna Shea Tis the season, and for those families who celebrate Christmas, there is the expectation for kids to be good all year. If not, the…
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The Whats and the Whys of Socialization

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs The How to Make & Keep Friends social coaching approach includes taking what a child may already know and assisting them in applying that…
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Social Coaching is Like Pollinating

By Donna Shea & Nadine Briggs Our non-clinical approach to supporting friendships and social success is a unique one. The majority of social skills groups take place in a clinical…
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Focus on Gratitude

By Nadine Briggs & Donna Shea As we reflect on the past week, it has been somewhat difficult to consider which blog topic to post today. The current mood of…
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Mislabeled

By Donna Shea In my work at the center, or out on the road giving a workshop, I will frequently encounter a parent who is holding back or reticent about…
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Judgement Free Interest Zones

By Donna Shea I saw this image about following your passion in life. It has been a topic of discussion around my office this week. Particularly around Thomas the Tank…
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If the Apology Fits…Make It.

By Donna Shea Making apologies seems to have been a running theme for me during the beginning of the school year. Like everyone else, I am human. I make mistakes,…
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Have You Lost Your Sparkle?

By Nadine Briggs Have you ever felt as though you have lost your “sparkle”? That thing inside of  you that you were known for? Your quality that was known for…
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Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

By Donna Shea I’ve been struggling a lot this week with body odor and bad breath. Fortunately, not my own (at least I think I’m okay!) No, I’ve been trying…
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Let His (or Her) Ideas Play Too

By Nadine Briggs When kids are playing together, strong opinions about what they want to play and how it should be played quickly come to fruition. Whether it is in…
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No One Here is Named Dude

By Donna Shea “Dude, stop it!” “Hey dude, check this out.” “Seriously dude?” I hear kids use the word dude when speaking to each other. A lot. I don’t personally have…
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Information Funnel

By Nadine Briggs Conversation skills can be very tricky for kids with social challenges. Thinking of the right thing to say, finding the timely moment to say it, giving just…
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Power Trip Play

By Donna Shea My summer program is chock full of boys. A great deal of play that boys engage in has to do with power. Imaginary battles abound. It is…
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Who Listens to Your Ugly Moments?

By Nadine Briggs When something drags you down, who is there to help pick you back up? Do you have someone who will listen to your ugly moments without judging…
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Frisbee® Fairness

By Donna Shea I had a chance to play with my 10-year old niece and 6 year-old nephew this past weekend. We were happily tossing a yellow Frisbee®* around in…
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A Kind Observation

By Nadine Briggs When Donna and I work with kids we have the opportunity to see them interact with their peers in a natural, unstructured environment. We see how some…
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Words Better Left Unsaid

I stopped a little friend of mine the other day when he said “I don’t mean to sound mean, but…” to one of the other boys in the group. I…
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Summer Friendship Plans in 6 Steps

By Nadine Briggs For the past few weeks at social group we have been working on friendship plans for summer. Kids who have difficulty socializing may have found a level…
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It’s Not “Just a Play Date”

By Nadine Briggs Kids who attend our social education centers come to us because playing with peers is difficult. Sometimes it’s really, really hard. Play time is fraught with barriers…
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He Drives Me Crazy

By Donna Shea I met a young mom at a presentation I gave this past week on Behavior: The Language of Children. All throughout the presentation, I watched her nod…
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Asking Before Action

By Donna Shea The art of successfully social coaching children lies in the little memorable phrases that we weave into their interactions. A short, easy to remember, social code word…
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I’m Impressed by You

By Nadine Briggs “Wait, hold up a second, I wanted to tell how impressed I am by you.” Huh? Wait…what? I’m quite certain no one has ever spoken those words…
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It Happens Around 10 Years Old

By Nadine Briggs Donna and I were giving a friendship seminar recently when during Q&A, a mom brought up a concern about her son. “My son has been friends with…
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Is Your Child Really Ignoring You?

By Donna Shea Sometimes, maybe. When he or she wants to actively avoid responding to your request. The majority of the time, probably not. I work with lots and lots…
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Knowing When to Say No

By Nadine Briggs Mom: “Why don’t you guys go out for some fresh air and shoot some hoops or something?” Kid’s friend: “My mom said I can only ride my…
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Truth Be Told

By Donna Shea My young friend Matt is a 12-year-old that I have had in my social group since he was 9. Matt is a terrific kid, and he’s come…
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Social Group is Like Calculus Class

By Nadine Briggs A child or teen who exhibits social difficulties may offer up different reasons for why he or she cannot socialize or avoids social situations. According to his…
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Words Hurt

By Nadine Briggs Have you ever been called annoying? Stupid? A jerk?  Even the R-word? (A word I despise so much, I won’t even type it out).  Words hurt.  In…
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Super Bowl Bullies

By Donna Shea I was sad the day after the Super Bowl. Not because our New England Patriots were not playing in it this year (well, maybe a little), but…
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I Can Hear You!

By Donna Shea My significant other, Michael, recently had a minor day surgery.  All went well except for the fact that he struggled with the effects of the anesthesia for…
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The Art of Gift Giving and Receiving

‘Tis the season of gift giving.  In my social skills groups this past week, we have been talking about and practicing the tips in our book in the section on…
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Naughty or Nice?

By Donna Shea The season has arrived when helping kids with behavior management includes elves on shelves and being on the naughty or nice list.  Children are cautioned to be…
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How do you eat an ice cream sandwich?

By Donna Shea We work with many kids who might be described as inflexible or rigid in their thinking.  There are times when a one-track mind is a powerfully positive…
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When the Heart Hides

When the Heart Hides By Nadine Briggs She can be really tough, even downright mean at times. She is openly abrasive and does not care what others think of her.…
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The True List

By Nadine Briggs At my tween girls’ social group this past week, I did an exercise where the girls were asked to make a True List.  A True List is…
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It’s Not Your Turn to be Happy

By Donna Shea If we could all have our own way and have life exactly how we want it to be, wouldn’t life be great?  Of course, the problem quickly…
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Act Your Age

By Donna Shea Have you ever found yourself using or thinking the words why don’t you act your age with a child?  The answer to that question, more often than…
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Understanding Leads to Understanding

Understanding Leads to Understanding By Nadine Briggs “I’m concerned that the teacher will peg my kid as the bad one.” “I’m worried that the kids won’t like my child.” When…
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Trapped in a Den of Ogre Pokers

By Donna Shea I just came home from vacation after facilitating a 6-week full-day summer program at my Center. Each week brought me new kids to meet and new challenges…
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Storming the Castle

By Donna Shea Some kids have a difficult time with being shy and joining in.  Some kids have mastered the social finesse of working his or her way into a…
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Is There a Bully in Your Brain?

Is There a Bully in Your Brain? By Nadine Briggs Our minds never stop thinking. We are constantly bombarded with an ongoing dialogue from within our own minds. What are…
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Make Manners Matter

by Donna Shea It is my belief that respect is something that cannot be demanded and I purposely avoid using the word respect or phrases such as “you are being…
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Being True to Your True Self

Being True to Your True Self By Nadine Briggs Donna and I decided that as we write this blog, we would tell our readers more about who we are. Donna…
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“That” Kid

By Donna Shea I am the mom of that kid. But I wasn’t always.  My growing up years were as typical as they come – the white picket fence kind.  Sure,…
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Are YOU Having Enough Fun?

Are YOU Having Enough Fun? By Nadine Briggs Yes, you. I see you turning around to see if I’m talking to the person behind you. I mean you! Are YOU…
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Summer Friendship Finder & Autograph Book

Here’s a little something I made for my tween gals before we ended our social group for the summer (with parent permission).  They all left with each other’s contact information,…
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Fire pits and Flashlight Tag

Fire pits and Flashlight Tag By Nadine Briggs I love hanging out around fire pits.  It’s like camping but without having to sleep on the ground.  The crackling fire, Jiffy…
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Absolute Thinkers: Parts versus Whole

“I never get a turn.” “My mom always gets me here late.” “No one ever wants to play the game I want to play.” “I lose every time.” Does your child revert to absolutes…
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Longing to Belong

Me: “Do the other kids like him?” Teacher: She hesitated and then said “no” with a heavy, sad sigh. This was part of a conversation I had with a wonderful…
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My Big (Gasp!) Sword

Miss Donna here.  So, I am learning to play Dungeons & Dragons (or D&D as I am told by my experts).  That in and of itself is a story, but…
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Walk Strong. Talk Strong.

Walk Strong. Talk Strong. How a person feels about his or her self is evident by the way he or she walks and talks publicly. Our bodies and voices are…
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Know Your Audience

Our young friend James has a keen interest in and amazing knowledge about appliances – particularly washers and dryers.  Many kids have a specialty with a particular topic – it’s what we call…