Social Skills Programme

These programmes are offered by Tautoko Services Nelson office.

For more information contact: Lynette Steele, Phone 03 546 9532

Each social skills programme is tailored to meet the needs of the group. It is a strengths based programme that provides children/adolescents with the knowledge and skills they need to participate in the school and community social settings. The programme helps participants to identify and build on their strenthgs and abilities. The material covered is provided in a visual form so the topics covered can be shared and reinforced in the home or school setting.

Some of the topics covered are:

• Identifiying strengths, interests and what we have in common.

• Rules of communication - appropriate body language, how to start a conversation, entering a group, topics of conversation, levels of engagment and listening skills.

• Friends - how to make and keep friends, different levels of friendship, identifying what makes a good friend, being a good friend, signs that this person is a friend, solutions to friendship problems.

• Feelings - what are they, recognising them in self and others, managing anger and anxiety.

• Bullying - what is it, the different forms, reasons why bullies bully, what to do about it.

• Keeping safe - using circle of friends - the people who are close to me and what is appropriate.

• Public and private places and behaviours. Why and why not?

• Problem solving skills - looking at examples and finding a better solution. Using the stop and think before doing rule.

• Identifying faulty thinking and how to change it.

Social Skills groups provide a positive and supportive learning enviroment for children or adolescents to develop and practice skills while providing paricipants with a reference group.

Some of the outcomes experienced from participants, families and schools:

• Greater confidence of the children and adolescents.
• More inclusion in school and community life.
• Reduced conflict with peers, family and teachers.
• Greater understanding of self and others.
• Enhanced social skills.