Multi-Sensory Classroom- Home School Tools

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Build Social Skills with Cooperative Games

Social Skill Groups Page

For those that don't live in our area we offer social skill games and a model for reinforcing social skills at home. Our games build family or group unity and self esteem. The also teach cooperation and many other skills needed to get along with others. 

 We also offer other home programs that will enhance your ability to develop your child's / children social skills from the comfort of your home.

Our "MANNERS FOR THE REAL WORLD - Basic Social Skills" Video features straightforward descriptions and clear demonstrations of the right behaviors for common social situations.  This can make it a helpful tool in teaching a child with Asperger Syndrome or High Functioning Autism some extremely useful social skills.

We have also added social skills page for items that would be helpful for children in the autistic spectrum.

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ABOUT OUR SOCIAL SKILL GAMES  

It is easy for a parent to start a social skill group near you using these games.   
These games teach real time applications of several key social skill group themes. 
For the benefits of cooperative games click here  

These social skill games are highly recommended for family, group and classroom use.  

Awards from Dr. Toy and Canadian toy ratings are listed at the bottom of the entry. Playing co-operatively, players will see how encouraging replaces pushing and how ability and strength are used to help rather than push others out of the way.

Games 7 and UP  and  Games for 3 & Up. See Our Skill Comparison Chart 
We also have a section of games "not just for kids" Games 10-Adult

We offer this line of non-competitive, cooperative family games so you can easily teach social skills in your children.  We believe that family time should be spent playing together not against each other in most competitive games. We have found games that will allow your family to play games that teach a spirit of cooperation by letting you all work toward a common goal. After all even the youngest player should be able to play side by side, each making their best contribution. The initial impulse to play a game is social; that is, why we bring out a game- because we want to do something together. Playing co-operatively, you will see how encouraging replaces pushing and how ability and strength are used to help rather than push others out of the way. They have great potential in teaching the social skills needed for successful social interactions with groups of any kind.

Email holly@incrediblehorizons.com  
Click here if you want more information.

Click on the links to advance to:
Learning disabilities and Social Skills
Info on Social Groups in Brevard County, FL
Reinforcing social skills in the home

The Benefits of Social Skill Groups

Why are Social Skills Important?

Social Skills are the foundation for getting along with others.  A lack of Social Skills can lead to behavioral difficulties in school, delinquency, inattentiveness, peer rejection, emotional difficulties, bullying, difficulty in making friends, aggressiveness, problems in interpersonal relationships, poor self-concept, academic failures, concentration difficulties, isolation from peers, and depression.  Children with learning disabilities, sensory integration difficulties, Asperger’s Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, neurological disorders, and emotional disabilities often need additional training in Social Skills.  They will likely benefit from direct instruction in Social Skills Groups led by trained professionals and the availability of a safe environment in which to practice newly learned skills.

Learning Disabilities and Social Skills:

Our ability to interact and develop relationships with those around us is not fully realized until we are able to listen and communicate effectively. If a child has any type of social communication problem, including Auditory Processing Disorder (APD), the ability to connect with others will be affected. To be an effective communicator, either on a playground or in the boardroom, we must be able to hear, discriminate, and understand what is being said. Otherwise the life of the child / children with learning impaired is filled with social blunders that are frustrating and embarrassing. Simply put, some attempts at socially connecting with another human being may become devastating to their self esteem and emotional well being. This makes trying to communicate into a chore instead of a pleasure. 
More info on this

"But we can neither hide nor run away from the social communication difficulties that can accompany APD... Of all the difficulties that arise from auditory processing problems, those that impact our ability to interact with others strike the deepest, hurt the worst, and most demean ourselves in our own eyes." Terry James Bellis Ph.D.

Even if we ignore the other aspects of learning difficulties with APD, this should be reason enough to emphasize early identification and intervention. Because unless there is some intervention, the social skill struggles on the playground and in school will carry over to the workplace. 

Reference: Bellis, Terry James Ph.D., When The Brain Can't Hear: NY, Atria Books 2002

Link to Checklist to help determine if auditory problems are present 

Since social skills depend on being able to process and discriminate speech and conversation-The Listening Program (TLP) could be the intervention that you need. The Listening Program not only develops better auditory processing and communications skills, it also helps those with difficulties in regulating mood and frustration levels due to auditory processing difficulties. All of those issues directly impact social skills.

                                                       
Researchers have found that the musical portion of the brain is frequently unimpaired in a child with low receptive language and low or even no expressive language. There is a direct correlation between the musical portion of the brain and the language area in the opposite hemisphere in autistic children. Filtered and gaited musical sound patterns can lead to a better understanding of language sound patterns. Therefore the use of The Listening Program will ultimately translate into better communication and social skills . 

                                                   A music-Based Auditory Stimulation method that trains
the brain to improve the auditory skills needed to effectively listen, learn, socialize and communicate.  15-30 minutes a day of gaited and filtered music specifically recorded for this purpose.                

• The typically developing child
  
• Individuals experiencing listening, sensory, learning, language, reading, attention, memory, social, communication, and auditory processing difficulties
  
• Those interested in improved communication and speaking skills, musical ability, learning potential, and creativity

Click here for more information

From the Creators of The Listening Program:

Social Skill Listening 
Sound Health CD's

 

Early auditory stimulation is crucial to a child's cognitive and language development. These recordings are designed to improve ear and brain function while providing a delightful listening experience.  The series currently includes CDs for each of the following purposes:  concentration, thinking, learning, productivity, relaxation, de-stress, and more coming soon.   You'll be amazed how great you'll feel after listening to these! The whole family can use these CD's. 

Play these Cd's during social group activities and judge for yourself! Teachers are you allowed to play music in your classroom. Try playing one of these selections to witness the effect. Many children have reported better focus and concentration by listening to this type of music while studying and doing home work. Why not try one in your class room?

NOTE: Our social skill group instructor always makes sure we have this music playing and that the children have used their theanine products. Those are the two things that have proven to be effective in group settings.

How are Social Skills Taught?

Our groups provides direct instruction through a variety of teaching techniques that include modeling, role-play activities, videos, coaching, and games.  Each child joins a small (4-8 children) group according to social functioning level, objectives/parent priorities, topic interests and activity level, and age.  Each group is lead by a certified associate behavior analyst and is supervised by the Social Skills Program Director, Nicole Cuomo, Ed. S., BCBA, who is a licensed school psychologist and nationally board-certified behavior analyst and by Kelly Jo Kaye, MA, who is a licensed mental health counselor.  Each group meets weekly.

Research (Gresham et al, 2001) indicates that Social Skills groups / training programs that include modeling, coaching, and reinforcement into their programs are the most effective.  Successful programs also include plans for generalization and maintenance of newly learned skills outside the training environment. Research also indicates that Social Skills training needs to be frequent and intensive in order for skills to be acquired and fluently used. Parents and teachers should be involved to ensure generalization of skills to natural settings.

We are located at 674 N. Wickham Dr. That is just south of Sarno Road

 Please call for more information.(321) 751-1313

Our facilitators like to meet with parent prior to enrollment-see fee schedule for intake session

Children are grouped to be as close as we can to your child's social abilities in order to be tailored more to specific needs

Normally 4-8 students (sometimes up to 10 until we can split into another group)
Most insurance can be billed

For information on all of our services in Brevard County, Florida Click here

LINKS TO RELATED PAGES
Skill Comparison Chart for our  social skill games 

Benefits of cooperative games
  
Other Program 
Recommendations
 Rehab for Brain Injury
  ADD/ADHD & ASD-Autism
  Auditory Processing Disorder
  CAPD
  Bi-polar Disorder
  Adult Optimum Performance
  Sensory Integration 
  Visual Processing Disorders
   Dyslexia & TLP
  Sharpening the aging mind
  
  Stress Busters
  Digestive Solutions

General Links Page

 New Brain Research
 Why our programs work

 
Researchers have found that the musical portion of the brain is frequently unimpaired in a child with low receptive language and low or even no expressive language. 

There is a direct correlation between the musical portion of the brain and the language area in the opposite hemisphere in children. 

Filtered and gaited musical sound patterns can lead to a better understanding of language sound patterns. Therefore the use of The Listening Program will ultimately translate into better communication & social skills. 

Click on picture for more information

New Brain Research
Why our programs work
Why you're not stuck with the brain you're born with.

Ways to navigate our HUGE site:

1. Problem Solving by symptoms or skills needed
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Side by Side Comparison of our Products and Services
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2. Program 
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  Rehab for Brain Injury
  ADD/ADHD & ASD-Autism
  Auditory Processing Disorder CAPD
  Bi-polar Disorder
  Adult Optimum Performance
  Sensory Integration 
  Visual Processing Disorders
   Dyslexia & TLP
  Sharpening the aging mind
  Cooperation, Family & Social Skills
  Stress Busters
  Digestive Solutions


3. Informational Articles On Specific disorders
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ADHD/ADD & Autism
 Intro for Parents
 Understanding ADD/ADHD
 Life and Development with ADHD
 Progression of ADHD into adulthood
 Treating Attention Problems
Autism Spectrum and TLP    Programs for ADD/ADHD & Autism
Dietary Needs / Suggestions
Digestive Problems 

Auditory Processing
 Auditory Programs
 Auditory check list
 Auditory Difficulties

Sensory Integration
Sensory Integration Disorder
Basic Sensory Development
 Sensory Integration Programs

Visual Processing
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 Info and Visual 
Processing Program
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