Ideas for "homeschool" social group/therapy

[origami]

I think my DS2 (age 4) would benefit from being in a social therapy group or class, but we live in Asia and there is no such thing here. He gets speech therapy which is good but I don't think it covers enough in the way of pragmatics. I'm hoping to get some good, practical ideas for how I can help him, or something I can pass along to his teachers. He's in school all day (9-3) Mon-Fri and that has been beneficial but I think he needs to be taught more intentionally how to initiate play/convos/friendships. We have a lot of logistical problems with playdates, but if that's the best "therapy" I will do my best to make it happen. (problems are language barriers b/c most parents don't speak english so I can't set up playdates with their kids, or kids are involved in extracurricular activities and have no time, blah blah blah.)

[origami]

I haven't looked up anything yet. *shame face* I will check that out. Thank you!

[auntie]

That's going to be a challenge.

Michelle Garcia Winner's Superflex can be adapted to preschool aged kids, but it might be difficult to do in a group setting for a lot of reasons.

Some thoughts-

1. MGW's social skills are typically taught by SLPs or another specially trained professional.

2. There is an assumed Western bend to the pragmatics and social skills that may not be embraced by local families.

3. Usually these groups are set up by an SLP to include similar kids; you might find that the NT kids will be drawn to each other and blow off the kid who is struggling socially.

4. At four, a group setting might overwhelm your child, especially if his language is delayed. He might do better with you working 1:1 around this and then doing facilitated 1:1 playdates.

5. Depending on why his pragmatics are delayed, he may have trouble doing the additional work of attending to a playdate after 6 hours in school. He might shut down and be unavailable for learning.

[origami]

I don't think a play group will ever happen here (unless run by the school), but 1:1 might. Do you think it's still worth trying? That Super Flex program does have a preschooler package...

[auntie]

How about you teach you child the MGW Superflex and then invite a friend to a playground to practice the skills by prompting him as needed.

[origami]

Thx I think I will. Hopefully I don't screw it up more than doing nothing will

[auntie]

Oct 27, 2014 19:51:17 GMT -5 origami said:

Thx I think I will. Hopefully I don't screw it up more than doing nothing will

You'll be fine.

It would be great if you could attend a MGW conference, but probably not doable. She has a tremendous website and great blog. Poke around, there's bound to be information that will help you understand the whole Social Thinking concept. Her most current blog entry is about Superflex.

I used to have a link to an achived conference but it's been taken down recently. Perhaps you could find one on you tube.


www.socialthinking.com/what-is-social-thinking/michelles-blog

[origami]

Oct 28, 2014 6:29:20 GMT -5 auntie said:

Oct 27, 2014 19:51:17 GMT -5 origami said:

Thx I think I will. Hopefully I don't screw it up more than doing nothing will

You'll be fine.

It would be great if you could attend a MGW conference, but probably not doable. She has a tremendous website and great blog. Poke around, there's bound to be information that will help you understand the whole Social Thinking concept. Her most current blog entry is about Superflex.

I used to have a link to an achived conference but it's been taken down recently. Perhaps you could find one on you tube.


www.socialthinking.com/what-is-social-thinking/michelles-blog

thanks!! I might come back to the US for much of the summer break so that might work out if she has July conferences that aren't too far. I ordered the preschool material today so I'm excited to see how this goes.

[macchiatto]

Is he going to an international or local school? How culturally similar are his playmates? (I lived in Asia for 5 years, though it was before kids.) Is there much of an expat community there?
My son has been getting individual therapy in social skills/pragmatics since July (age 5.5) and it has made a huge difference for him. He is really catching on from having things explained to him that other kids (like his twin) pick up on intuitively. She works with him on eye contact, not interrupting, turn-taking in conversations, how to make small talk, etc. I think working with him on your own, teaching and doing role-plays and then practicing with playmates would help, along with suggestions for his teachers of things to remind him of, prompt him to do, etc.

[4speedy]

Has your DH's employer offered up any club memberships while you are over there? I understand that many expats join one specific athletic club over there? have you had any luck meeting any other "company kids?" I'm trying to figure out some places where you might get some practice with other native English speakers.

[origami]

Nov 17, 2014 6:56:54 GMT -5 4speedy said:

Has your DH's employer offered up any club memberships while you are over there? I understand that many expats join one specific athletic club over there? have you had any luck meeting any other "company kids?" I'm trying to figure out some places where you might get some practice with other native English speakers.

Not anymore They dropped it maybe a few years ago. I cry b/c they have such a nice pool.

I met with my kids' school and someone there thinks she can find something for us. The teacher thinks he actually needs OT instead of a social group but either way there is apparently an english-speaking therapy office somewhere here. I'm supposed to meet with the school's child psychologist soon so I hope to find out more then.

Thank you for brainstorming for me!