Autism Services – Social Spark Lab Ages 8 – 10

Social Spark Lab is a 12 week program that follows the curriculum of Children’s Friendship Training. This curriculum is an evidence-based social skills program designed for children who have difficulty making or keeping friends. Aimed at children between the ages of 8 to 10, the program focuses on teaching practical, step-by-step social skills that help children build positive, lasting relationships with peers. Research shows that children who participate in Children’s Friendship Training often develop stronger friendships, show greater confidence in social settings, and experience improved acceptance among peers.

The program is delivered in small groups over a series of weekly sessions. Parents/Caregivers also have the option to attend an in-person drop-in session that runs at the same time as their child’s group, providing an opportunity to review weekly content and topics, ask questions, receive coaching, and connect with other parents. This flexible format supports both learning and family schedules while keeping parents closely involved.

Core skills include joining group activities, being a good sport, starting and maintaining conversations, handling teasing or rejection, and planning successful playdates. Parents/Caregivers learn how to coach and reinforce these skills at home, arrange play opportunities, and guide their child through real-world social experiences.

There is a mandatory orientation session on Thursday, January 15th from 4:00pm to 5:00pm. This free session will be split into two – caregivers with the Registered Behaviour Analyst, and participants with the Autism Therapists that will be running the group. Our participants will be able to get a feel for what the group is about and the other youth that they will be meeting. As we want our youth to have the ability to make an informed choice, if they choose not to move forward with the group, there will be no cost incurred.

This group is an eligible OAP expense.

Cost: $2600

Ages: 8 – 10

Time of Day: Thursdays 4:00PM – 5:30PM

Dates: January 22nd, 2026 – April 16th, 2026

Mandatory Orientation: Thursday, January 15^th

To register please email our Autism Intake Coordinator at [email protected]