Fall 2025 Groups
Curriculum
Week 1: Introduction to Social Skills
We’re kicking things off by getting to know each other and learning what social skills are! Kids will discover how our thoughts, words, and actions help us connect with others—and why these skills matter for friendships, fun, and feeling good.
Week 2: Conversation Skills
Talking and listening are key to making friends and feeling heard. This week we’ll practice how to start conversations, take turns talking, show interest, and join in with others in a way that feels kind and confident.
Week 3: Filters and Boundaries
Not everything we think needs to be said out loud! In this session, kids will learn about the “filters” we use in conversations and how to understand personal space, privacy, and respectful boundaries with others.
Week 4: Rules & Unspoken Rules
Some social rules are obvious—others are harder to spot. This week we’ll talk about the “unspoken rules” of social settings like classrooms, lunchrooms, and playgrounds, and why they help us get along better with others.
Week 5: Conflict Resolution
Everyone has disagreements sometimes. This week we’ll practice ways to handle conflict with words instead of outbursts—like staying calm, listening, apologizing, and working toward a solution.
Week 6: Making Friends
Making new friends takes courage and practice. This week we’ll focus on how to approach others, join in, show kindness, and be a good friend from the start.
Week 7: Healthy Friendships
In our final week, we’ll explore what makes a friendship healthy—and what to do when a friendship feels tricky or hurtful. Kids will leave with tools to help build strong, respectful relationships that last.
Social Skills for Kids
with Child & Adolescent Therapist
Karen Bendig, MSW, LCSW
Beginning Saturdays, September 13th
9am-10:30am : Ages 6-8
10:30am-12pm: Ages 8-10
Curriculum:
Week 1: The Strengths We Have
We all have unique strengths—even when it’s hard to see them. In this session, we’ll explore what makes each of us special and how our strengths can help us face life’s changes with confidence.
Week 2: Building Self-Esteem
What we think and say about ourselves matters. This week, we’ll talk about how to grow a kinder inner voice, challenge self-doubt, and feel more confident in who we are becoming.
Week 3: The Masks We Wear
Sometimes we hide how we really feel to fit in or protect ourselves. This session will help girls understand the “masks” we wear, why we wear them, and how to show up as our true selves.
Week 4: Managing Friendships
Friendships can be fun—but also confusing or stressful at times. This week we’ll learn how to handle changes, miscommunication, and the ups and downs of friendships in healthy ways.
Week 5: Friends or Foes?
Not everyone who acts like a friend really is one. This session helps girls learn the difference between healthy and unhealthy friendships, and how to recognize red flags and trust their gut.
Week 6: Boundaries
Boundaries help us protect our time, feelings, and energy. We’ll learn what boundaries look like, why they’re important, and how to say “no” in ways that feel respectful and strong.
Week 7: Who Am I?
In our final session, we’ll put it all together and reflect on everything we’ve learned. Girls will leave with a stronger sense of who they are, what matters to them, and how to keep growing with confidence.
Adjusting to Changes for Middle School Girls
with Child & Adolescent Therapist Karen Bendig, MSW, LCSW
Beginning Saturdays, September 13th
12pm-1:30pm: Ages 11-13
