Social Skills Groups

Life by the Reins
Social Skills Groups

Our Life by the Reins social skills groups are designed for children ages 5-17 and young adults 18-26 with challenges in social communication that affect the quality of their interpersonal relationships and abilities to read social cues.

These fun, interactive groups are grouped by age or “best fit”, participants meet weekly in small group settings with individualized experiential activities designed to increase their proficiency and comfort with appropriate social skills. Groups provide additional opportunities to learn and practice nonverbal and social interaction.

Participant goals include:

Increased social and self-awareness
Increased coping skills
Conflict resolution
Understanding the impact of their behavior on other peoples’ impressions of them
Building and maintaining friendships
Understanding the social mechanics of verbal and non-verbal communication

Social Skills participants will not be riding horses. All equine-facilitated learning activities occur as ground work.

“Social Skills classes provide a weekly check-in and accountability that has benefited both children greatly (even if they don’t think they are getting anything out of them). Eye contact, respectful tones of voice, problem solving skills, conversation starters/enders all improved. I truly believe that when they get older, they will thank me for ‘making’ them attend classes.”

To Apply
Our social skills groups meet throughout the year. If you are interested in participating, please email striders@lifestriders.org, or call 262.565.6124. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff and volunteers look forward to seeing you.