The Grounds offers social skills training for children in Singapore through small, supportive peer groups, also known as our Social Group Therapy programme. Designed for neurodivergent children who find social interaction, friendships, or emotional regulation challenging, our sessions are led by AHPC-licensed Speech and Educational Therapists. We help children build the social thinking, flexible problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they need to connect with peers, manage big feelings, and navigate everyday social situations with confidence. Every group is tailored to the children in it, matched by age, communication style, and developmental stage.
Signs Your Child May Benefit from Social Skills Training
Does your child:
- Show limited interest in peers his/her age?
- Have difficulty approaching peers his/her age?
- Play alone when his/her peers are playing together?
- Have no friends?
- Have difficulty sustaining play with peers his/her age?
- Have difficulty managing his/her own emotions?
- Escalate a minor issue into a major one and melts down?
- Have difficulty with anger management?
If you answered yes to any of the above, your child may be facing challenges with social interactions and communication and that’s where structured social skills training can help.
How Our Social Skills Training Works
Social skills are best learned where they’re used: with other children, in real situations, with the right support nearby. Our programme is built around that simple idea.
Small Peer Groups
Each group is intentionally small, so every child gets meaningful attention from our therapists and meaningful interaction with their peers. Smaller groups also make it easier to manage sensory load, slow down social moments for teaching, and create a calmer environment for children who feel overwhelmed in larger settings.
Therapist-Led, Play-Based Sessions
Sessions are guided by AHPC-licensed Speech and Educational Therapists who use play, games, and structured activities to teach social skills in context. Rather than rehearsing scripts, children practise real interactions, with therapists stepping in to coach, model, and reinforce skills as they happen.
Goals Tailored to Each Child
Every child joins with their own goals. One child may be working on initiating play, another on managing frustration when a peer says no, another on holding a back-and-forth conversation. Our therapists set individualised targets, track progress, and share regular updates with families so you know exactly what your child is working on.
What We Work On
Our social skills training covers the full range of skills children need to thrive socially, including:
- Social thinking — understanding what others might be thinking, feeling, or expecting in a given situation
- Initiation and approach — starting conversations, joining play, asking to be included
- Sustaining interaction — holding a back-and-forth conversation, maintaining play, taking turns
- Flexible problem-solving — adapting when plans change or peers disagree
- Socio-emotional regulation — recognising and managing feelings before they overflow
- Problem-size recognition — telling small problems apart from big ones, and responding proportionately
- Friendship skills — making friends, keeping them, and repairing things when they go wrong
These aren’t taught as isolated lessons. They’re built into every session, so children practise them with real peers in real moments.
Who Our Social Skills Groups Are For
Our social skills training supports neurodivergent children, including those with autism, ADHD, social communication difficulties, or anxiety around peer interaction. Children typically join us between the ages of 4 and 12, though groups are formed based on developmental stage, not age alone, so children are matched with peers who are working on similar goals.
Some children come to us alongside individual speech, occupational, or educational therapy. Others join the programme on its own. Either path works, and our therapists will help you decide which approach fits your child best after an initial assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions about Social Skills Training
How are children matched into groups?
We match children based on age, developmental stage, communication style, and shared learning goals. This means a child works alongside peers who are at a similar point in their social development, which makes interaction more achievable and progress more visible.
How long is each session, and how often do groups meet?
Session length and frequency depend on the group and your child’s goals. We’ll walk you through the recommended structure after an initial assessment, so the schedule fits both your child’s developmental needs and your family’s routine.
Will I be involved as a parent?
Yes. Family involvement is central to how we work. Our therapists share regular updates on your child’s progress, suggest strategies you can use at home, and are always available to discuss what your child is working on so social skills transfer beyond the therapy room.
What's the difference between social skills training and speech therapy?
Speech therapy focuses primarily on communication: how your child speaks, listens, and processes language. Social skills training focuses on how your child uses those skills with other people, including reading social cues, building friendships, and managing emotions in peer settings. Many children benefit from both, and our team can recommend the right combination based on your child’s needs.