Your child wants to join the other children at a birthday party, but they stay at the edge of the room because they don’t know how to enter the game. Or perhaps they talk over others, miss a friend’s cues, or say something that upsets another child without realising why. You may watch and wonder, “Why does my child find this so hard when other children seem to pick it up naturally?” This is where social skills training can help.
Social skills aren’t personality traits. Your child can learn them, practise them, and build confidence with the right support. At The Grounds, we use a mix of structured and natural play group therapy to help children practise these skills with real peers. As an early intervention centre in Singapore, we know that social learning doesn’t stop when a therapy session ends.
In this guide, we’ll explain what social skills group therapy involves, who can benefit from it, and why practising with other children can make such a difference.
What Are Social Skills, and Why Do Some Children Struggle With Them?
Social skills are not one thing
When you think about social skills, you might picture your child making friends or having a conversation. But there’s much more to it. Your child uses social skills when they:
- Read facial expressions and body language to understand how someone feels.
- Understand tone of voice and notice when someone sounds upset, excited or uncomfortable.
- Take turns in conversations instead of interrupting or dominating the discussion.
- Join a group by knowing when and how to enter an ongoing game or conversation.
- Manage their behaviour when they feel excited, frustrated or overwhelmed.
- Recover from social mistakes, such as saying something hurtful or upsetting another child.
- Belonging in a group such as understanding what makes them part of the group
Most children pick up these skills naturally through everyday interactions. They watch their peers, try different ways of responding, and learn from what happens.
But for some children, these unspoken social rules don’t come as easily. They may need someone to explain what other children seem to understand instinctively.
Why some children need explicit teaching
Different children can struggle with social interaction for different reasons:
- Autistic children may find unspoken social rules difficult to notice or understand. According to the CDC, explicit teaching can make these unspoken rules clearer. [1
- Children with ADHD may understand social expectations but struggle with impulse control and timing, leading to peer difficulties such as not taking turns, being bossy, or not sharing. CHADD’s guidance for parents notes these challenges respond well to structured group intervention. [2]
- Children with anxiety may know what to do but freeze when they need to interact. Safe, repeated practice can help build confidence.
- Children without a diagnosis can also struggle socially. Limited peer interaction, changes in schooling, or simply a need for more opportunities to practise can affect social development.
Most importantly, social difficulties don’t mean your child doesn’t want friends. They may want connection very much but haven’t yet learned the social “language” that helps them build it. Social skills training gives your child a structured way to learn, practise and grow these skills.
What Is Social Skills Group Therapy?
Social skills group therapy involves a small group of children working with a therapist to practise social interaction together. It isn’t simply a room where children play while adults watch.
More Than Just Playing With Other Children
Unlike one-to-one therapy, your child learns with real peers. They can practise communication, turn-taking and responding to social cues in the same type of setting where they’ll use these skills in daily life. This makes social skills training more practical and meaningful.
What a Group Session Typically Involves
Groups typically include 4–6 children, matched by age and social learning needs. Sessions may focus on:
- Joining a conversation or group
- Taking turns and sharing attention
- Handling disagreements
- Giving and receiving compliments
- Understanding another person’s perspective
- Maintaining regulations when losing a game
Our therapists model each skill, guide practice, and give feedback. Your child also learns when and how to use each skill in different situations.
How Group Therapy Produces Different Results Than Individual Therapy
Individual therapy can help your child understand a social skill. Group therapy gives them a chance to use it with another child. Group-based social skills interventions have a growing evidence base: a 2017 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Clinical Psychology Review by Gates, Kang and Lerner found group social skills interventions to be efficacious for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. [3]
Your child can practise handling misunderstandings, negotiating, taking turns, and repairing mistakes, with a therapist there to guide them. This makes social skills training more closely reflect everyday interactions. These groups can also help kids find other peers with the same difficulties but also the same interests where genuine friendships can develop. This can build self-esteem to handle more social situations outside and find other peers with similar interests when they experience what authentic friendships are like.
For families seeking a private early intervention centre in Singapore, group therapy can also complement individual support when needed.
Who Benefits From Social Skills Group Therapy?
Your child doesn’t need a formal diagnosis to benefit from social skills training. What matters most is whether they experience ongoing difficulty with social interaction and whether a structured group matches their needs.
1. Children with autism spectrum disorder
Autistic children may experience differences in social communication, perspective-taking and their understanding of unspoken social rules.
A group gives your child a chance to practise these skills with peers while a therapist makes the hidden parts of social interaction easier to understand.
Instead of expecting your child to “just know” how to join a game or respond to a friend’s feelings, we can break the interaction down into smaller, clearer steps.
2. Children with ADHD
Your child may understand social expectations but struggle to use them consistently. They may interrupt because they feel excited, speak before someone finishes speaking, lose track of the conversation, or react quickly when something doesn’t go their way.
Group therapy gives your child opportunities to notice these patterns and practise self-monitoring in real social situations.
3. Children with anxiety
A child with social anxiety may want to make friends but avoid situations where they need to approach or speak to others.
Avoidance can make it harder to gain the experience that builds confidence. A structured group offers a smaller, supported environment where your child can practise social interaction without having to navigate a large, unpredictable group all at once.
4. Children without a diagnosis
Your child doesn’t need an autism, ADHD, or anxiety diagnosis to struggle socially.
Some children simply find peer interaction difficult. They may struggle to make friends, join games, keep conversations going or handle disagreements. They can still benefit from clear teaching and supported practice.
Our social skills groups support children with a range of social and communication needs, and we tailor each group to the children who join it.
What group therapy really involves
Social skills group therapy isn’t a babysitting group or a casual social club.
It has clear therapeutic goals. Our therapists guide activities, observe how children interact, provide feedback, and track individual progress. We also share updates with families so you understand what your child practises and how you can support those skills at home.
It also doesn’t have to replace individual speech, occupational or educational therapy. Your child may benefit from both. Each type of therapy serves a different purpose, and our team can help you decide what combination fits your child’s needs.
What to Expect When Your Child Joins a Social Skills Group
Starting a new group can feel unfamiliar for both you and your child. Here’s what you can expect before and during their social skills group therapy:
Initial Assessment
Before your child joins a group, our therapist will speak with you about your child to understand their strengths, challenges, and social goals. We also consider their age and social learning stage when matching them with the right group. You can learn more about our diagnostic assessment process on our services page.
Session Frequency and Duration
Groups typically meet weekly for 55-60 minutes. After each session, you may receive a brief update on what your child practised and how you can reinforce those skills at home.
Progress and Goal-Setting
We set goals together with you, such as joining a group, keeping a conversation going, or recovering from a social mistake. We review progress regularly to make sure the group continues to meet your child’s needs.
Social Skills Grow Through Practice
Social struggles aren’t a character flaw, and your child doesn’t have to figure them out alone. With the right support and regular practice, they can learn how to approach others, understand different perspectives, manage frustration, and handle social mistakes.
Group therapy gives your child a safe space to practise these skills with real peers, with a therapist there to guide them.
Social connection plays an important role in children’s mental health, wellbeing, and academic development, as noted in a 2026 editorial in Frontiers in Developmental Psychology. [4] If your child finds it difficult to connect with others, an initial conversation can help you decide whether group therapy is right for them.
At The Grounds, our social skills training groups help children practise, build confidence and develop stronger connections with others.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my child need a diagnosis to join a social skills group?
No. Your child doesn’t need a formal diagnosis. An initial assessment can help determine whether group therapy suits their social needs.
How is group therapy different from individual speech or OT therapy?
Individual therapy focuses on your child’s specific needs, while group therapy lets them practise social skills with real peers. Both can complement each other.
Will my child be grouped with children they know?
Not necessarily. We match children by age, developmental stage, communication style, and goals. Practising with unfamiliar peers also helps your child use their skills in different settings.
What age is social skills group therapy suitable for?
Groups typically start from around age 4 to 5. At The Grounds, our social skills groups generally support children aged 4 to 12, depending on their individual needs.
How long does social skills training take to make a difference?
Every child progresses differently. You may notice changes within a few months, but consistent social skills training and practice help your child build skills across different people and settings.
Help Your Child Build the Social Skills That Matter
Social connection is at the heart of wellbeing, confidence, and school life. If your child is struggling to connect with peers, The Grounds’ Social Group Therapy programme offers structured, therapist-led groups designed for children who need more than just more practice; they need the right kind of practice.
If you’re wondering whether your child could benefit from social skills training, speak with our team at The Grounds to explore the right next step for your child.
Resources
- CDC — About Autism Spectrum Disorder
- CHADD — Social Skills Interventions (For Parents)
- Gates JA, Kang E, Lerner MD — Efficacy of group social skills interventions for youth with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis — Clin Psychol Rev. 2017 Mar;52:164–181. doi: 10.1016/j.cpr.2017.01.006
- Berger C, Hanish LD, Cavell TA — Editorial: The importance of peers: making the most of peer relationships in childhood and adolescence — Front. Dev. Psychol. 4:1768414. 2026. doi: 10.3389/fdpys.2026.1768414
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Daniela Lopez is a Head Educational Therapist and Centre Manager. With a passion for teaching and supporting children, she strongly believes in the power of play, early intervention, and personalised learning strategies. Daniela is dedicated to bringing out the strengths and abilities of every child, including those with special needs, while creating meaningful opportunities for them to learn, grow, and thrive. She believes that every child has the potential to flourish when given the right support and encouragement.