For some children and individuals, knowing how to appropriately use language when interacting with others can be a struggle
Social skills and/or social pragmatics are used by individuals on a daily basis to interact with other people in their environment. Children may have no difficulty using correct language and grammar, but may struggle to use language appropriately in different situations and with a variety of people.
How we communicate and interact with others affects how they feel and think about us. For most individuals, the social linguistic rules and conventions are learned indirectly, through observation. No one sat us down and explicitly taught us how to take turns during a conversation, the importance and difference between asking questions and making statements, making eye contact, how to maintain a topic, etc. For some children and individuals, however, knowing how to appropriately use language when interacting with others is a struggle.
Some may have difficulty with the nuances of social interactions and ‘reading between the lines.’ These individuals may benefit from direct instruction and practice, either individually or in a small group setting, to improve their knowledge and use of social communication and, in turn, improve how others think and feel about them, how they are able to work with others and in a group, the ability to form meaningful peer relationships, ultimately improving their own individual self-esteem. Individual and/or group social communication sessions can improve the following:
- Conversational skills
- Turn-taking and play skills
- Appropriate use of greetings
- Use of social conventions
- Use of social media/texting
- Friendship/interpersonal skills
- Jokes, idioms, multiple meaning words, and expressions
Group sessions and rates are available upon request.