Group Social Skills Training for Young Children in a Clinical Setting

Peer interaction problems are often difficult to ameliorate in a clinical setting. In this study, four boys, whose many problems included difficulties with peer relationships, were given social skills training in a group over ten sessions. The main aim was to improve cooperative play, effective communication and conflict resolution skills by using a general problem-solving framework combining behavioural and cognitive techniques. The formal measures failed to show change, which may be due in part to inadequacies in the measures. Reports from therapists, teachers and parents suggested that there was considerable change within sessions, some improvement at school but very little at home.