Plan Ahead for Trick or Treat Buddies
When kids play, you will often hear the phrase, "I have a better idea." Check out our quick tip for when ideas differ.
You might wonder, “What Does Coaching Look Like?”
Let’s take a recent example from one of our elementary group sessions. We often encounter situations where children with social challenges struggle to remember their peers’ names. To address this, we incorporate a game we call the “Name That Kid Ball Game” into our coaching sessions.
During this activity, children form a circle and play catch with a small ball. The objective is for each child to call out the name of the person they’re tossing the ball to. In the session we conducted yesterday, we provided coaching on several aspects of this game:
We understand that children with anxiety often seek clarity about what they’re about to do. They will repeatedly ask, “What are we doing?” but then have trouble listening to our instructions. It took a few minutes to ensure everyone understood how to play the game and we patiently explained until everyone was ready to play.
Initially, the children tended to cluster on one side of the circle, leaving significant gaps on the other. Some kids stood too close to others, making it difficult to toss the ball accurately.
Several children frequently wandered away from the circle. One boy even left the circle several times to sit on a floor pillow or engage with the foosball table.
Some children exhibited a tendency to throw the ball with excessive force, making it challenging for their peers to catch it. This slowed down the game as others had to chase after the ball.
During the game, one child broke into an extended, energetic dance while holding the ball. While this was an attempt to release pent-up excitement, it temporarily delayed the game for the other participants. If he tends to do this at recess at school, the other kids might become annoyed by the delay.
Some children humorously pretended that the ceiling or objects in the room were people. Initially, this led to laughter from the group, but it became repetitive and somewhat annoying for others.
Group activities like this game can present various challenges for children with social difficulties. Our coaching approach prioritizes patience and kindness. We recognize the importance of providing clear instructions to help them learn how to engage effectively with their peers. These coaching moments serve as valuable opportunities for these children to improve their social skills, ensuring they can enjoy group activities even when our support is not present.
Based on the continuous laughter we heard during the game, it appears that our coaching approach struck the right balance between guidance and fun.
If your child faces challenges in making friends and interacting with others, we encourage you to schedule a phone call with us. We can assess whether our friendship coaching program is suitable for your family. Remember, our trial groups are always free, allowing your child to experience our coaching firsthand.
If your child/teen/young adult needs coaching to help them make friends, contact us to schedule a trial https://calendly.com/simplysocialkids/30min or find out more about our weekly programs by contacting us at 978-764-2758 or info@simplysocialkids.com.
