What You Need to Know About Child Social Thinking

During the traditional teaching years, our school is focused on teaching subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, etc. This is also because during the old days, students aren’t experiencing much of social learning challenges. However, time has changed and so are the children in this whole new modern world.

Admit it or not, today’s children: both typically developing and those with special needs, are entering school with decreasing abilities to learn in a group or dealing with other kids or adults in general. This is why we need to know the importance of social learning to a student’s academic success and later success in life.

Let’s start it with the question, “What is Social Thinking?” Social Thinking is a proven method to help children effectively interact and deal with others, helping them figure out independently, the best way to think or the best way to act in social situations.

This approach helps children realize that their behavior impacts how others perceive them, and it teaches them to navigate social interactions more thoughtfully.

• This will train our children’s brain to figure out what people around them might be thinking.
• This will also help them create positive thoughts about themselves and others as well.
• It can help them to develop enhanced communication skills such as active listening and express their thoughts and feelings clearly.
• It promotes inclusivity and inclusive attitudes of acceptance, community building and tolerance as children are exposed to each other’s differences and choose to practice support and care for one another.

It sounds quite easy right? But it may not be. For some children, they learn the “rules” of social situation and form friendship easily just by observation. However, some children also have more difficulty picking up these social cues from their natural environment and are sometimes perceived as “different” or “odd” by their peers.

This is why in our center, Bridging the Gap, we want to help our children succeed not just in academic situations but most importantly, social situations.

What Can Children Benefit from Bridging the Gap’s Social Thinking lessons and activities?

Social Thinking lessons will help children with the following:

• Think about other people’s feelings (Empathy Development)

• Ask about other people’s personal experiences (Relationships & Perspectives)

• Work in group setting at school (Teamwork & Relationships)

• Work as part of a team (Trust Building & Collaborative Learning)

• From connection and build friendship (Deeper & Meaningful Friendships)

• Share and take turns (Self-Awareness & Peaceful Problem-Solving)

• Play with peers in an age-appropriate way (Regulation of Emotions & Community Building)

• Keep schoolwork organized (Social Norms Understanding & Self-Awareness)

• Stay calm in stressful situations & reduced aggression (Recognition of Emotions, Emotional Responses & Healthy Coping Strategies)

• Read the social cues of peers (Empathy Development & Active Listening)

• Develop self-esteem (Social Confidence)

• Understand social dynamics (Increase Confidence & Reduce Anxiety)

• Easier to pick up lifelong learning skills (Teamwork, Empathy & Social Awareness)

What Takes Place in Bridging the Gap’s Social Thinking Sessions for Children?

Here in Bridging the Gap, we have group sessions, focusing on teaching our kids how to socialize with their peers and of course to have fun. By integrating social thinking and empathy training into their development, children can significantly improve their ability to navigate social situations, build meaningful relationships, and thrive both academically and personally.

We will present expected and unexpected behaviors. We will then create opportunities for them to express their feelings and give them a chance to actualize what they have learned on Social Thinking.

Below are some pictures of our Social Thinking group sessions:

• We play games to focus on turn taking, waiting and sharing. This is also a good activity for them to be flexible and to be a good sport. The game will help them realize that winning and losing is part of the game. We always give them the opportunity to let them feel their emotions when they lose and give them ways on how to manage their emotions as well.
  
• We also conduct presentations to show the different situations that our children might encounter or experience in their daily lives. We do role playing activities on how to deal with such encounters with other people that will make use of their social thinking. Also, through worksheets, we let them read and analyze different situations and let them think of solutions on how to respond to different social encounters, helping them to use their social thinking skills effectively.
  

Who Needs Social Thinking Skills Training?

Social Thinking training is beneficial for a wide range of children, particularly those who face challenges in understanding and navigating social interactions.

Here are children who may benefit from Social Thinking classes:

1. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

   • Social Communication Difficulties: Children with ASD often struggle with social communication and understanding social cues.
   • Perspective-Taking Challenges: They may find it difficult to see things from others’ viewpoints and predict others’ feelings or reactions.

2. Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

   • Impulsivity: Children with ADHD may act impulsively in social situations, leading to misunderstandings or conflicts.
   • Attention Challenges: They may have difficulty focusing on social cues and maintaining attention in conversations.

3. Children with Social Anxiety

   • Fear of Social Interactions: Children with social anxiety may avoid social interactions due to fear of judgment or embarrassment.
   • Building Confidence: Social Thinking training can help them build confidence and reduce anxiety in social settings.

4. Children with Learning Challenges

   • Social Skills Deficits: Learning challenges can impact a child’s ability to learn and apply social skills effectively.
   • Peer Relationships: They may struggle to build and maintain peer relationships due to social misunderstandings.

5. Children with Language Disorders

   • Communication Barriers: Language disorders can create barriers to effective communication, making it hard for children to express themselves and understand others.
   • Social Interaction Challenges: These children may find it difficult to participate in conversations and group activities

6. Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

   • Emotional Regulation Issues: Children with emotional and behavioral disorders may have difficulty regulating their emotions, leading to inappropriate social behavior.
   • Behavioral Problems: They may exhibit behaviors that are disruptive to social interactions and relationships.

7. Children Who Are Gifted and Talented

   • Asynchronous Development: Gifted children may have advanced cognitive abilities but lag in social-emotional development.
   • Peer Relationships: They may struggle to relate to peers who do not share their interests or intellectual level.

8. Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

   • Challenging Authority: Children with ODD often have difficulty respecting authority and following social rules.
   • Conflict Resolution: They may benefit from learning positive ways to resolve conflicts and interact with peers and adults.

9. Children with Traumatic or Adverse Childhood Experiences

   • Trust Issues: Traumatic experiences can impact a child’s ability to trust others and form healthy relationships.
   • Emotional Expression: These children may have difficulty expressing their emotions in socially appropriate ways.

10. Children Who Are Extremely Shy or Introverted

    • Reluctance to Socialize: Shy or introverted children may avoid social interactions, limiting their social skill development in their early years.
    • Building Social Confidence: Social Thinking training can help them build confidence and feel more comfortable in social settings once they are ready.

11. Children from Diverse Cultural Backgrounds

    • Cultural Differences: Children from different cultural backgrounds may face challenges adapting to new social norms and expectations.
    • Integration: Social Thinking training can help them integrate and feel more connected in diverse social environments.

By participating in Social Thinking classes, children can develop the necessary skills to navigate social interactions more effectively, leading to improved relationships and overall well-being.

Learn More about Social Thinking Classes