Parent support & coaching · Lane Cove
Social Skills Therapy
for Children
Practical strategies and gentle guidance, so you feel more confident supporting your child every day.
- Members of Occupational Therapy Australia
A partnership
Social Skills Therapy
You watch your child hover at the edge of the group, wanting to join in but not sure how. Maybe friendships start well and then fizzle, or the playground has become somewhere they dread. Social skills therapy at OT Kids Academy helps your child build the skills and confidence to connect with others in ways that feel comfortable for them.
Why Social Skills Support Can Help
Social skills are made up of many smaller abilities working together. Reading facial expressions and tone, taking turns, managing strong feelings, understanding another person's point of view, and knowing how to join or leave a group are all skills that develop over time. When some of these are still developing, everyday social moments can feel confusing or overwhelming.
Many parents are told that their child just needs more time for these skills to develop. Sometimes that is true. Sometimes a child benefits from support to build these skills more directly, in a way that is practical and low-pressure. An assessment can help you understand what your child is finding hard and whether therapy would help.
Is Social Skills Therapy Right for Your Child?
Think about how your child manages friendships and group settings. If several of the following feel familiar, a social skills assessment may be worthwhile:
Finds it hard to start or keep conversations going
Has difficulties making friends, or friendships tend not to last
Misses social cues such as tone of voice, facial expressions or body language
Finds turn-taking, sharing, or winning and losing difficult
Prefers to play alone or stays on the edge of the group
Becomes overwhelmed, frustrated or withdrawn in social situations
Finds it hard to recognise or respond to how others are feeling
Takes teasing, jokes or sarcasm very literally
Finds group settings like the playground or parties stressful
Is being left out, or is beginning to feel different from their peers
This list may prompt some future questions. If you are unsure, a conversation with an occupational therapist can help you decide whether support is needed now or something to revisit later.
Our Social Skills Therapy Services
Social skills therapy looks at the whole picture, because connecting with others draws on many skills at once. Depending on what your child needs, therapy may focus on:
Starting, holding and ending conversations
Reading facial expressions, tone of voice and body language
Turn-taking, sharing and cooperative play
Understanding and managing big feelings in social moments
Recognising other people's perspectives and feelings
Joining a group, and coping when they are left out
Managing conflict, teasing, and winning or losing
Building confidence and self-esteem in social settings
Progress looks different for every child, and goals are set with you so support stays relevant as your child grows.
How We Build Social Skills
Social skills are learned by doing, so therapy is practical and play-based rather than a set of rules to memorise. Children practise skills in real interactions, whether one-to-one with a therapist or in a small group with peers, where they can try things out, make mistakes safely, and build confidence at their own pace.
For autistic children, the goal is not to change who they are or to teach them to mask. It is to build skills and confidence that help them connect with others in ways that feel comfortable, and to support the people around them to understand and meet them halfway. Your therapist will explain what they are working on and why.
Ways to Access Social Skills Support
Social skills support can be delivered in a few ways, and your therapist will recommend what suits your child:
Individual therapy
one-to-one sessions to build specific skills at your child's pace before or alongside group work.
Group programs
small groups where children practise social skills with peers in a supported, structured setting.
School and community support
strategies that carry into the playground, classroom and everyday settings, where it helps.
Parent coaching
practical strategies and resources so social development continues at home.
An initial assessment helps your therapist recommend the right mix and set your child's goals.
Parent Coaching and Support
It can be difficult to watch your child experience challenges in social situations, and it is natural to wonder how best to support their friendships, confidence, and sense of belonging. Social support is not about teaching your child to behave more like others. It is about understanding their unique communication style, strengths, and needs, while helping you find practical ways to support connection and participation at home without turning everyday interactions into a lesson.
Social Skills Assessments & Reports
An initial assessment helps build a picture of your child's social communication, play skills, emotional regulation and confidence, alongside how they manage different social settings. Where appropriate, our therapists can provide written reports to support communication with schools, early learning settings, funding bodies or other health professionals.
All assessments are completed in line with professional and ethical standards. Services may be accessed through private payment, Medicare where eligibility criteria are met, or NDIS for eligible participants and plan types. A referral is not required.
Ready when you are
Book a Social Skills Assessment in Lane Cove
If your child is finding friendships or group settings challenging, you do not need to wait to seek support. Call our Lane Cove clinic on (02) 8040 0876 or get in touch to schedule an assessment and talk through what support might look like for your child.
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Book an Assessment
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Frequently Asked Questions
Social difficulties raise a lot of questions, and most parents arrive with the same ones. Here are the questions we hear most often.
What Is Social Skills Therapy For Children?
Social skills therapy is occupational therapy that helps a child build the skills needed to connect and interact with others. It covers things like conversation, reading social cues, turn-taking, understanding feelings, and managing group settings, as well as the emotional regulation that sits underneath all of these. Therapy is practical and play-based, and it happens through real interactions, either one-to-one or in a small group, paced around what your child is ready for.
How Do I Know If My Child Needs Social Skills Support?
It may be worth seeking an assessment if your child finds it hard to make or keep friends, misses social cues, has difficulties with turn-taking or big feelings in social moments, or finds group settings challenging. Feeling left out, avoiding social situations, or becoming increasingly aware of feeling different from peers are also worth discussing. An assessment can help clarify what is contributing and whether support would be useful now or later.
Do You Offer Social Skills Groups?
Yes. Alongside individual sessions, we run small-group programs where children practise social skills with peers in a supported, structured setting. Groups can be a good fit because they let children try out skills in real interactions, with a therapist guiding and coaching along the way. Your therapist will discuss whether a group, individual sessions, or a combination suits your child after the initial assessment.
Can Social Skills Therapy Support Neurodiverse Children?
Often, yes, and our approach is affirming rather than about changing who your child is. Rather than teaching autistic and other neurodiverse children to mask or hide their differences, therapy focuses on building skills and confidence that help them connect in ways that feel comfortable, and on supporting the people around them to understand and meet them halfway. Goals are always set with you and your child, and shaped around what matters to them.
What Age Should Social Skills Therapy Start?
There is no single right age. Younger children often work on early skills like turn-taking, sharing and playing alongside others, while older children and teenagers may focus on friendships, group dynamics and navigating more complex social situations. Therapy is tailored to your child's age and goals, and your therapist will discuss what is realistic after an assessment. Outcomes vary between individuals.
Are Groups Or Individual Sessions Better?
It depends on your child. Some children do best building specific skills one-to-one first, then practising them in a group. Others thrive in a group from the start, learning through interaction with peers. Many children benefit from a combination. Your therapist will recommend what suits your child based on the assessment, and this can change over time as your child develops.
What Is Emotional Regulation, And How Does It Relate To Social Skills?
Emotional regulation is the ability to notice and manage feelings, and it sits underneath many social skills. When a child feels overwhelmed, frustrated or anxious, it is much harder to read cues, take turns or handle conflict. Because of this, therapy often supports emotional regulation alongside social skills, helping your child stay calm and engaged enough to connect with others.
Does My Child Need A Diagnosis To Access Social Skills Therapy?
No. Your child does not need a diagnosis to see an occupational therapist for social skills support. Therapy focuses on what your child is finding difficult day to day, not on labels. Many families come to us simply because their child is struggling socially and they want clarity about what is happening and what might help.
How Long Does Social Skills Therapy Usually Take?
This depends on your child's age, goals, and how consistently skills can be practised between sessions and in everyday life. Some families notice small shifts within a few weeks, while others work over several months. Support is reviewed regularly so goals stay relevant, and your therapist will discuss a realistic timeframe with you after the initial assessment. Outcomes vary between individuals.
How Do I Get Started With Social Skills Therapy?
The first step is an initial assessment. Your therapist will learn about your child's experiences, strengths, and needs, including how they approach friendships and social settings. Together, you will discuss your goals and explore practical supports that fit your child and family. From there you will work together to decide whether individual sessions, a group program, or a combination is the right fit. You can book an assessment by calling the clinic or getting in touch through our contact form.
This page is intended for general information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a qualified health professional for advice tailored to your child's individual needs. Outcomes vary between individuals.