What you can expect from this group:
This weekly group is designed to give kids in kindergarten and first grade the tools they need to connect, regulate big feelings, and navigate new situations with confidence.
Whether your child has difficulty connecting with peers, struggles with emotional regulation, or simply needs more time to adjust to new environments, this group uses evidence-based play therapy approaches to gently support their growth in a way that feels natural and engaging. While your child feels like they’re just having fun, they’ll actually be building essential cognitive, emotional, and social development skills.
In this group, your child will:
With the chance to practice and build upon these skills each week, your child will become better equipped to handle social situations, manage emotions, and adapt to challenges—creating more confidence for them, and more ease for you.
Whether your child has difficulty connecting with peers, struggles with emotional regulation, or simply needs more time to adjust to new environments, this group uses evidence-based play therapy approaches to gently support their growth in a way that feels natural and engaging. While your child feels like they’re just having fun, they’ll actually be building essential cognitive, emotional, and social development skills.
In this group, your child will:
- Learn strategies for fostering peer relationships: In a supportive and structured environment, children will have the opportunity to connect with peers their own age and practice essential interpersonal skills, like initiating conversations, joining group play, navigating social dynamics, and reading and responding to social cues. With the guidance of a psychologist, these real-time peer interactions are gently supported and shaped to help your child learn how to make and maintain friendships with greater ease and confidence.
- Gain hands-on experience with key social skills: Our social skills group provides weekly opportunities for your child to actively practice and receive corrective feedback on the kinds of social interactions that they encounter in school and beyond —like meeting new peers, sharing materials, taking turns, and playing cooperatively. Through structured games, arts & crafts, and group activities, children will work on developing listening to others, managing frustrations, and demonstrating good sportsmanship in a supportive environment.
- Build emotional regulation and self-control for real-life moments: Through therapist-led play, storytelling, and movement-based activities, children will strengthen their ability to manage big feelings like frustration, disappointment, or distress—especially during moments of social tension or transition. They’ll learn strategies for calming their bodies, using their words, and problem-solving in the face of challenges.
With the chance to practice and build upon these skills each week, your child will become better equipped to handle social situations, manage emotions, and adapt to challenges—creating more confidence for them, and more ease for you.
When does the
next group start?
Choose between our Monday or Tuesday group, each running from 3:30–4:30 PM. Pick the afternoon that best fits your child’s routine!
Where does this
group meet?
This group meets in person at Upshur Bren Psychology Group in Pelham, NY.
Who would benefit
from this group?
This supportive group is perfect for children in kindergarten or first grade who would benefit from help with sharing, taking turns, following rules, sportsmanship, and making/keeping friends. Great for kids with anxiety, ADHD, or ASD (Level 1). Not recommended for children who struggle with aggression or require 1:1 support in order to effectively participate.
Sign up for a complimentary 30 minute assessment call to see if this group would be the right fit for you.
Sign up for a complimentary 15 minute assessment call to see if this group
would be the right fit for you.
All the details you need to know:
This camp will be led by Postdoctoral Psychology Fellow Louise Olson, PsyD, NCSP.
Click here to learn more about Louise
