Social Skills Training

About This Service

What is Social Skills Training?

Social Skills Training (SST) is a structured, evidence-based programme that teaches children the interpersonal skills needed to form friendships, communicate effectively, and navigate social situations. Many children with autism, ADHD, anxiety, or social difficulties don't pick up these skills naturally and need explicit, systematic teaching.

"Social skills are learnable skills. With the right teaching, every child can learn to connect, communicate, and build meaningful relationships."

At Little Wings, we deliver SST through both individual sessions (for personalised skill building) and small group sessions (for real-life social practice). Sessions use role-play, video modelling, social stories, and structured games to make learning engaging and effective.

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Group & Individual Social skill building

Skills We Teach

Social Skills We Cover

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Eye Contact

Building comfortable, natural eye contact in social interactions.

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Turn-Taking

Learning to wait, share, and take turns in conversation and play.

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Conversation Skills

Starting, maintaining, and ending conversations appropriately.

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Reading Social Cues

Understanding facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.

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Emotional Regulation

Managing feelings in social situations — frustration, excitement, anxiety.

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Friendship Building

Initiating play, joining groups, resolving conflicts, and maintaining friendships.

Our Method

How We Teach Social Skills

1

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Role-Play & Practice

Children practice real social scenarios in a safe, supported setting — making mistakes is welcomed as part of learning.

2

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Social Stories

Personalised stories that explain social situations, expected behaviours, and how others feel — making abstract rules concrete.

3

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Group Sessions

Small peer groups provide real social practice opportunities — the most powerful context for learning and generalising social skills.

Training Journey

Social Skills Training Journey

1

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Week 1

Social Skills Assessment

Evaluating current social strengths and gaps using standardised tools and clinical observation.

2

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Week 2

Personalised Programme

A targeted SST plan addressing your child's specific social goals — individual and/or group.

3

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Ongoing

Skill Building Sessions

Weekly sessions using role-play, video modelling, social games, and group practice.

4

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Monthly

Generalisation Review

Checking that skills are being used at home, at school, and in the community — not just in sessions.

Outcomes

Benefits of Social Skills Training

1

Real Friendships

Children form and maintain genuine friendships — one of the most impactful quality-of-life outcomes.

2

Greater Confidence

Social success builds self-esteem and encourages children to engage more in social situations.

3

Better School Life

Improved peer relationships make school a more positive, less stressful experience.

4

Reduced Anxiety

Children who understand social rules feel less anxious in social situations.

5

Conflict Resolution

Children learn to handle disagreements and navigate peer conflict without adult intervention.

6

Lifelong Skills

Social competence built in childhood carries forward into adolescence and adulthood.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SST effective for children with autism?+

Yes. SST is one of the most evidence-supported interventions for autism. Children with ASD can absolutely learn social skills with explicit, structured teaching and practice.

What's the difference between individual and group SST?+

Individual sessions build specific skills in a personalised, safe environment. Group sessions provide the real-world peer practice needed for skills to generalise. We often recommend a combination of both.

How many sessions will my child need?+

Most children benefit from 12–24 weeks of SST. Younger children and those with more significant needs may benefit from longer programmes.

Can SST help with school friendships?+

Yes — improving social skills directly translates to better peer relationships at school. We also provide schools with guidance on supporting social skill generalisation in the classroom.

My child is shy — is this the same as a social skills deficit?+

Not always. Shyness is often temperamental. True social skills deficits involve not knowing how to interact, rather than being reluctant to. We can assess this in a consultation.