Kidz Connect

Communicate • Play • Belong

Social Skills Groups Where Kids Can Connect, Practice & Have Fun

Kidz Connect offers small, engaging social groups designed to give children meaningful opportunities to communicate, play, build confidence, and connect with peers.

Through hands-on activities, games, play, conversation, and group experiences, children can practice important social skills in a supportive environment while doing what kids should be doing — having fun with other kids.

Because social skills are best practiced socially, our goal is to provide children with a supportive place where they can build confidence, strengthen their skills, and experience what it feels like to be part of a group. Groups are intentionally kept small and are organized based on age, communication skills, group readiness, and the level of support each child may need to have a successful social experience.

More Than Just a Social Skills Class

Social skills are difficult to learn without opportunities to actually practice them with other children. Kidz Connect creates those opportunities in a structured but natural way.

Rather than sitting at a table talking about friendship, children practice social skills while playing games, building, creating, having conversations, working together, solving problems, and participating in fun weekly activities.

Our groups may focus on:

Finding the Right Group Matters

Children of the same age can have very different communication, social, and group-learning skills. That’s why Kidz Connect placement isn’t based on age alone.

We thoughtfully consider each child’s age, communication profile, social skills, group readiness, peer compatibility, and level of support needed when recommending a group.

Our goal is to create groups where children have opportunities to connect with peers while receiving the right amount of support to be successful.

Group Readiness

Kidz Connect is a social skills group rather than a 1:1 therapy program. Because children participate with several peers, they need certain foundational skills to safely and successfully participate.

Depending on the group, children should generally be able to:

• Communicate basic wants and needs using spoken language, AAC, gestures, signs, or another functional communication system
• Participate in a small-group environment with developmentally appropriate adult support
• Engage in an activity for a short period of time
• Follow simple group directions with support as needed
• Transition between activities with reasonable support
• Participate near or with peers
• Wait and take turns for brief periods with support
• Participate safely without requiring continuous 1:1 behavioral support

Before enrollment, families complete a brief intake form. Our team reviews your child’s current skills and support needs and may schedule a parent conversation or screening to help determine the most appropriate group.

Find Your Kidz Connect Group

Four groups, organized by age and by the level of support each child needs to have a successful social experience.

How Does Enrollment Work?

1. Complete the Intake Form

Tell us about your child’s communication, social skills, interests, school experience, group participation, and support needs.

2. Our Team Reviews the Information

We look beyond age to consider your child’s current skills, level of support, and potential peer matches.

3. Brief Screening, If Needed

We may contact you for additional information or recommend a brief screening before placement.

4. We Recommend a Group

If we believe Kidz Connect is appropriate, we’ll recommend the group that we feel gives your child the best opportunity to participate, connect, and be successful.

Placement in a particular group is not guaranteed and depends on group readiness, peer compatibility, support needs, enrollment, and available space.

Start the Intake Process

Kidz Connect Locations

Group availability may vary by location and session.