About Us
How Can Building Blocks Help?
Philosophy
The vision of Building Blocks “Social Skills Development and Learning” is to provide individuals struggling with social engagement deficits or behavioral redirection, the same opportunities as those without. Our goal to address common social skills and behavioral deficits within an individual’s natural environment will remain the focus. It is our vision to provide every individual with the necessary skill sets to engage appropriately with peers, while promoting positive interactions within their natural environment.
Social skills are the skills we use every day to interact and communicate with others. They include verbal and non-verbal communication such as speech, gesture, facial expression, and body language. The right set of social skills will make it easier for individuals to make friends, share with others, and cooperate appropriately in social environments. By socializing, individuals will learn to foster empathy, improve language skills, discover the concepts of sharing and teamwork, grow more confident, and become better prepared for school. Practicing these concepts through socialization helps individuals create friendships, and most importantly maintain them.
Children do not need to be social butterflies. Indeed, each child will have their own personality traits that help inform the way they interact with others. However, positive relationships in life generally help most individuals thrive. Children and teenagers with well-developed social skills are likely to gain confidence in their abilities to approach situations and complete tasks more successfully.
Social Skills Development
Social skills help individuals interact with the world around them through relationship development, verbal communication, and body language. The right set of social skills will make it easier for individuals to make friends, share with others, and cooperate appropriately in social environments. By socializing, individuals will learn to foster empathy, improve language skills, discover the concepts of sharing and teamwork, grow more confident, and become better prepared for school. Practicing these concepts through socialization helps individuals create friendships and therefore learn how to respect others.
Good social skills also can help kids have a brighter future. According to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, a child’s social and emotional skills in kindergarten might be the biggest predictor of success in adulthood.
Children who lacked social and emotional skills were more likely to become dependent on public assistance, experience legal trouble, have substance abuse issues, and experience relationship issues.
Individuals who have strong social skills and can get along well with peers are likely to make friends more easily. Research indicates that childhood friendships are good for kids’ mental health. Friendships also give children opportunities to practice more advanced social skills, like problem-solving and conflict resolution.
