Kids Connect
Ages: 6-8 years
Group size: 6 children
‘Kids Connect’ is a social skills group designed by Jenni Pearce for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Kids Connect is designed for children aged 6-8 years and involves attending 9 weekly sessions. Sessions focus on a number of key foundational social skills important for a child’s functioning at home, school, and in the community. This group also includes one parent-only session, to assist in transferring skills into the home setting.
Bounce
Ages: 6-9 years
Group size: 6 children
The ‘BOUNCE!’ group is an emotionally-focused program, designed to develop emotional resiliency skills and mindfulness in children. This program involves attending 9 weekly sessions, and one parent-only session, to assist children in transferring their skills into the home setting.
The Secret Agent Society
Ages: 9-12 years
Group Size: 3-4 children
‘The Secret Agent Society’ (SAS) is a 10-week program that works to improve a wide range of skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. While having fun developing ‘secret agent’ skills, children will learn how to recognise and manage their own feelings and develop personal coping strategies and social skills. Children enjoy playing the spy-themed computer game, Helpful Thought Missile action game, Challenger board game and Secret Message Transmission Device walkie-talkie game. Resources are provided to support parents. The SAS program is internationally recognised, and evidence-based: https://www.sst-institute.net/ Children attend 10 weekly sessions, and the program also includes parent-only sessions to assist with transferring skills to the home setting.
Leap
Ages: 12-13 years (primary school leavers)
Group size: 6 -9 children
‘Leap!’ is a transitional program designed to build children’s readiness to make the transition from primary school to middle/high school. This program targets important skills required such as adapting to different and new demands, improving organisation, developing cyber-safety awareness, and managing complex peer relationships. The ‘Leap!’ program consists of 6 weekly sessions and was designed by a team of Psychologists and Developmental Educators.
The Dragons of the Spectrum
Ages: 10-13 years
Group Size: 3-4 children
‘The Dragons of the Spectrum’ (DOTS) Social Skills Program is a group-based intervention that focuses on improving social and communication skills in children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder aged 10-13 years old. The DOTS program has been developed around an original, highly engaging role-playing game where children will create fantastical characters, learn social skills, and go on exciting adventures using those skills. Group members defeat enemies, level up and get powerful gear as they adventure! The program consists of 10x 120-minute sessions, focusing on improving self-awareness and social-awareness, teamwork and turn-taking skills, social interaction skills, social expectations, emotional regulation skills, and independent and group problem-solving skills.
DOTS groups are run through the Social Play Academy.
The Alliance of Dragons
Ages: 13+ years
Group Size: 3-4 children
‘The Alliance of Dragons’ (AOD) Social Skills Program is a group-based intervention that focuses on developing complex cognitive, communication and social skills in children and adolescents. The AOD program was designed around a tabletop ‘war-game’, where participants create and earn armies, and engage in cooperative and competitive ‘battle scenarios’. This program was designed for adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder aged 13+. The AOD program consists of 10x 120-minute sessions, whereby participants learn specific cognitive, communication and social skills, and practice them through collaborative and cooperative work. The AOD program is uniquely goal-driven by participants, as weekly ‘missions’ are completed to unlock new units for their armies.
AOD groups are run through the Social Play Academy.