Week 4 Social Skills Playhouse; Observation Skills

This week we are focusing on teaching and understanding how to accurately read non-verbal communication and monitor what our body language communicates to others. Over developed or under developed social radar can either lead to social anxiety or people missing subtle social cues, particularly in regards to micro facial expressions. This latter group is often the target of bullying because they are unable to get their proverbial "foot out of their mouths" and will often "dig their holes deeper".

HOMEWORK:

We recommend having student's watch their favorite Disney drama or cartoon, without the audio, and analyze the non verbals of a particular character and attempt to predict and or create practical hypothesis about their intentions. Using a mirror with younger children to have them practice emotions and family charades are also encouraged.

Social Skills Playhouse Announces New Expanded Fall Schedule...

Due to popular demand, SSP has added two new classes taught by Lead Social Coach Ms Kelly at our CyFair location.  Robin Rettie of Lighthouse Learning and Resource has been kind enough to allow us expanded use of her facility so we are now able to offer this new 6 week class.

Classes begin on Wednesday, October 12th and run through Wednesday November 16th.

                       Wednesday 4:15-5:15 pm (Younger mixed group)
                       Wednesday 5:30-6:30 pm (Older boys group)


These classes are already filling up quickly, so please contact us at info@socialskillsplayhouse.com if you are interested in enrolling your child.

Cy Fair - Kelly Martinez, Lead Social Coach- Lighthouse Learning and Resource
10928 Grant Rd. Houston, TX 77070

Curriculum: Check out our new P.E.O.P.L.E. rubric created by SSP!

P.roblem solving, E.xecutive functioning, O.bservation skills

P.erspective taking, L.inguistic management, E.motion regulation

Tuition:

$350 6 week Fall 2011 Session

$210 for our 3 day December Holiday Camp

$500 for each 8 week Winter and Spring 2012 Semesters

Need based scholarships may be available

Week 2 Social Skills Playhouse; Emotion Regulation

This week we will be focusing on understanding our triggers and corresponding physiological responses by plotting them on our “Feel-o-meters” according to intensity.  We all naturally apply specific coping skills to regulate our responses and most of us only employ one or two.  In this week’s class, we will introduce and practice additional coping strategies. 

We often show low level cues that we are being triggered prior to a meltdown, our job as parents and professionals is to pick up on these cues and educate our children and ourselves as to how best deal with them.

We recommend students self advocate (with prompting at the beginning from an adult) to take safe breaks.  It is important that children are able to find a safe place in the home and the classroom for such breaks.  Interestingly, because it forces one to have controlled breathing, blowing bubbles (yes, the good old-fashioned soap bubbles) is an effective strategy for students young and old.  Other strategies which work are self massage and pressure points, stretching, guided short meditation, swinging, deep breathing and heavy lifting.

These techniques can be used in the traditional classroom as well.  You don’t need to have an IEP or a formal diagnosis for your child to incorporate some of these strategies into their school.  We have found that working with schools and giving ideas, thoughts and suggestions as to what will help fend off a major meltdown is often not only accepted, but embraced.

Bullies 2 Buddies

Yesterday, in the car and after the first week of school one of student's excitedly told her father, "The bullies from last year are becoming buddies this year thanks to Social Skills Playhouse."  By individuals changing their thought processes and response to the bullies we are able to ignite self-reliance and bolster our spiral of social success.