By: Frances Shefter, Esq.
A well-rounded child needs more than just academic skills. Developing the ability to build friendships, communicate effectively, regulate emotions, and navigate social situations will help your child be successful both in and out of school. Summer is a great time to help your child develop these skills in a fun way. Whether your child needs help making friends, understanding social cues, managing conversations, or building confidence with peers, the right program can make a huge difference.
Although summer has already started, just in case you are still looking for programs (like me), below are several social skills programs and therapeutic camps in Montgomery County and nearby communities that may be worth exploring.
Children’s National Social Skills Groups (Rockville)
Children’s National offers evidence-based social skills and executive functioning groups for children and teens, including programs focused on friendship skills, flexibility, anxiety management, and emotional regulation.
PEERS® Social Skills Program – Center for Assessment and Treatment (Chevy Chase)
PEERS® is a nationally recognized program that teaches adolescents and young adults practical skills for making and maintaining friendships, handling conflict, and navigating social situations.
Learn more: https://www.caatonline.com/peers-social-skills-groups/
PEERS® Social Skills Program – Counseling Center Group
This Montgomery County program offers PEERS® social skills training for children, teens, and young adults with autism, ADHD, and related social challenges.
Learn more: https://counselingcentergroup.com/locations/maryland/montgomery-county-peers/
B Social Therapeutic Summer Program (Rockville)
B Social combines structured social skills instruction with fitness and recreational activities to help adolescents develop communication, cooperation, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills.
Learn more: https://www.fitnessforhealth.org
Basic Concepts Social Language Programs (Rockville)
Basic Concepts offers social language groups designed to help children strengthen conversational skills, peer interactions, and pragmatic language development.
Learn more: https://basicconcepts.org/classes
PROMISE Program (Gaithersburg)
PROMISE provides inclusive summer programming that promotes meaningful social interaction, community participation, and skill development for children with a wide range of disabilities.
Learn more: https://www.ccacchealth.org/promise
Verbal Beginnings – Social Beginnings (Howard County)
This therapeutic social skills program helps children with autism and related communication challenges build friendships, practice social problem-solving, and improve peer interactions.
Learn more: https://www.verbalbeginnings.com/aba-programs/social-skills-for-kids/
Camp Attaway (Howard County)
Camp Attaway is a therapeutic summer camp that combines traditional camp activities with mental health support to help children develop confidence, resilience, and healthy peer relationships.
Learn more: https://campattaway.org/
Summer Sensations Therapy Day Camp
Summer Sensations blends recreation with therapeutic support, offering social skills groups, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and self-regulation activities in a camp setting.
Learn more: https://www.summersensationscamp.com/
Wishing You a Wonderful Summer
We hope you and your family have a fun, relaxing, and memorable summer. We know first-hand that educational concerns, and our parent brains, don’t always pause for summer. If questions or challenges arise regarding your child’s IEP, 504 Plan, evaluations, services, or placement, we are here to help.
We will still be working over the summer and will be posting weekly (hopefully) blog posts and Stress-Free IEP will continue to air every Tuesday at noon. In August we plan to have our back-to-school blog with tips to help families prepare for a successful start to the new school year.
Have a wonderful summer, and we look forward to supporting your family in the months ahead.
