Skill Building Groups
Groups offered through Maltby Centre’s Autism Services
Welcome to our dynamic community! At our Centre, we believe in the power of collective learning and growth. Our group sessions operate on a rolling registry, ensuring that as soon as we reach an optimal number of eager participants, we spring into action! Once one of our groups reaches enrolment capacity, we swiftly organize and set the stage for an enriching journey starting in as little as 4 weeks’ time. Groups run Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evenings, between 4pm and 8pm.
Don’t miss this opportunity to secure your child’s spot and be part of one or more of our vibrant cohorts. Join us on this exciting path to discovery and watch your child flourish in a supportive and engaging environment.
Questions? For more information please reach out to our Intake Coordinator[email protected].
Click Here to join a group waitlist.
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Groups for Learners 6 – 10
Be Cool: Understanding Anger
Age: 6 – 10
6 Sessions
Cost: $400
In our fascinating 1.25-hour sessions tailored for kids aged 6 to 10, we empower young minds with invaluable tools to navigate emotions confidently. Through interactive activities, discussions, and role-playing, children will explore effective ways to handle anger in everyday situations. From learning self-control techniques to grasping the fundamentals of emotional intelligence and conflict management, these sessions are designed to equip your child with essential life skills. Join us as we guide your little ones towards a brighter, more harmonious future!
The Circles Program – Rules of Social Boundaries
Ages: 6 – 8
12 Sessions
Cost: $850
Welcome to the Circles Program, a dynamic 1.5-hour romp tailored for young learners aged 6 to 8! Our mission, to equip your child with invaluable skills essential for navigating diverse relationships and social interactions with confidence.
Throughout this program, children will embark on a transformative learning experience, discovering the nuances of various relationships and the social dynamics intertwined within them. From understanding different relationship types to mastering the art of recognizing personal space and appropriate social distance, our goal is to empower your child with practical knowledge.
Join us as we guide your little ones through the steps of forming, maintaining, and adapting relationships while instilling the essential values of communication—knowing how to Talk, Touch, and Trust according to the level of relationship. Enroll now and witness your child grow in a world of meaningful connections!
Sports and Games
Ages: 6 – 9
6 Sessions
Cost: $450
Step into the world of fun and friendship with our Sports and Games group, specially crafted for energetic children aged 6 to 9! In this thrilling 1.25-hour session, your child will dive into an exciting realm of sports, games, and camaraderie, honing skills essential for both play and social interaction.
From mastering various ball sports to engaging in competitive and cooperative board games, our activities are designed to foster not just athleticism, but also the art of making lasting friendships. Rainy days won’t dampen the excitement as we have a lineup of engaging indoor activities too!
Throughout our sessions, your child will explore a range of topics, from learning the fundamentals of joining games and following instructions to embracing sportsmanship and managing healthy competition. We’ll guide them through the art of finishing games gracefully and build their social skills! Join us and watch your child thrive in a world where play meets social growth. Enroll now and let the games begin!
Coping with Teasing and Bullying
Ages: 7 – 9
5 Sessions
Cost: $400
Empower your child with the strength to navigate challenging situations with our dedicated 1.5-hour group tailored for ages 7 to 9. In this transformative program, we equip children with essential tools to confidently handle teasing and bullying scenarios while fostering self-control, conflict management, and emotional resilience.
Through engaging activities, discussions, and role-playing exercises, your child along with others will delve into crucial topics surrounding coping strategies for teasing and bullying. They’ll gain insights from videos depicting these scenarios, offering clear demonstrations of effective tools to manage and overcome such challenges. Our interactive sessions prioritize group discussions and provide ample opportunities for practicing responses through immersive role-playing activities.
Enroll your child today and let us guide them toward empowerment, resilience, and the skills needed to navigate the complexities of social interactions with confidence and grace.
Secret Agent Society
Ages: 8 – 10
10 Sessions + 2 Weeks of Assessments
Cost: $1000
Secret Agent Society: Solving the mystery of emotions and social encounters.
SAS is a breakthrough evidence-based approach for empowering children’s social and emotional skills. The SAS Small Group Program consists of group child sessions (club meetings), caregiver group meetings (30 minutes a week after the child group sessions), and tip sheets, paired with real-life practice missions and a system to monitor and reward skill development at home. Combining family and facilitator resources, the content and program structure is accessed through an intuitive and engaging software package that streamlines program delivery and participation for all child and adult participants during in-person sessions and between session activities.
The 1 hour-a-week evidence-based curriculum captivates children with its espionage-themed games and activities. The program was developed to teach children aged 8 to 10 with Autism to learn how to:
- Recognize emotions in themselves and others
- Express their feelings in appropriate ways
- Cope with feelings of anger and anxiety
- Communicate and play with others
- Cope with mistakes, transitions, and challenges
- Build and maintain friendships
- Solve social problems
- Prevent and manage bullying and teasing
- Acknowledge their personal strengths
Cyber Safety (5 Sessions)
Ages: 9 – 12
5 Sessions
Cost: $350
Welcome to Cyber Safety, a 1.15-hour virtual group designed for children aged 9 to 12, aimed at fostering safe and positive online experiences. In this digital journey, your child will explore essential skills and knowledge crucial for navigating the online world responsibly.
Throughout these engaging sessions, your child will:
- Gain insights into online privacy concepts and learn actionable steps to protect their privacy and well-being when faced with breaches.
- Develop crucial tools for appropriate online responses across various situations, ensuring a positive and respectful online presence.
- Hone the ability to recognize and understand the emotions of others during online interactions, fostering empathy and healthy communication.
- Acquire the skills to identify and handle unsafe content, comments, or advances, empowering them to navigate online challenges confidently.
Join us in equipping your child with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the digital realm while ensuring a safe and enriching online experience!
Children’s Friendship Program
Ages: 10 – 13
12 Sessions
Cost: $1000
Children’s Friendship Program, dedicated to elementary school children aged 10 to 13 who seek support in building and nurturing friendships. Led by experienced Autism Services Therapists, our engaging 1.5-hour small-group sessions focus on skill-building activities tailored to enhance social interactions. This is followed by a 30-minute parent/caregiver session that shares the information covered and how they can support their child in developing further these skills.
In each session, children embark on a journey of skill acquisition and practice within a supportive group setting. They receive weekly assignments to apply these newfound skills in their daily lives. Simultaneously, caregivers actively participate, learning how to effectively support their child’s social growth by providing guidance and coaching in real-life social scenarios.
Throughout the program, your child will master an array of invaluable skills, including:
- Creating positive first impressions
- Engaging in meaningful conversations with peers
- Discovering common interests to foster connections
- Practicing fairness and graciousness in winning or losing
- Resolving conflicts amicably
- Coping with rejections, teasing, and bullying
- Seamlessly joining peers in play activities
- Hosting successful playdates
- Demonstrating respect towards both peers and adults
Enroll your child today and empower them to thrive socially, fostering lasting and meaningful friendships in a supportive and nurturing environment.
The Life Smart Series for Youth 11 – 17
People Smart
Ages: 11 – 17
6 Sessions
Cost: $500
Welcome to People Smart, an engaging 1.5-hour group designed to empower young learners aged 11 to 17 with essential social skills that last a lifetime. Join us as we delve into valuable topics crucial for building meaningful connections and navigating social landscapes with confidence.
Throughout this interactive program, participants will explore:
- Effective techniques for meeting new people and initiating connections.
- Strategies to transform acquaintances into genuine friendships.
- Ways to deepen existing friendships, fostering stronger bonds.
- Differentiating between friendliness and true friendship.
- Safety measures to steer clear of potential trouble with strangers.
- Insights into becoming socially adept and engaging.
Empower your adolescent to navigate social interactions with finesse and confidence. Enroll now and set them on a path towards building fulfilling connections while mastering the art of social intelligence!
Money Smart
Ages: 11 – 17
6 Sessions
Cost: $500
Our Money Smart Teens group is dedicated to empowering young minds with the skills to master intelligent shopping and financial management. Join us in this transformative journey where youth aged 11-17 will gain the tools for a future of financial freedom and smart money handling.
Throughout our engaging 1.5 hour sessions, teens will:
- Explore savvy shopping techniques and intelligent spending practices.
- Learn strategies to manage their funds efficiently, granting them greater financial independence.
- Dive into weekly money smart topics through interactive activities, insightful videos, and real-life scenarios, all aimed at demonstrating smart decision-making with money.
- Engage in vibrant group discussions and immersive role-playing exercises, providing practical experience in responding to various financial situations.
Topics covered include:
- Resisting impulse buying and avoiding compulsive shopping habits.
- Cultivating smart spending habits and avoiding being extravagant.
- Becoming a discerning and informed shopper.
- Mastering budget management and preventing overspending.
- Developing awareness to avoid scams or deceptive practices.
- Learning effective ways to save while making purchases.
Enroll your teen in this empowering program to equip them with invaluable financial literacy skills, setting them on the path to a secure and responsible financial future!
Date Smart
Ages: 11 – 17
9 Sessions
Cost: $850
Join us as we explore essential strategies to navigate the complexities of dating, focusing on safety, boundaries, and fostering healthy relationships. For teens aged 14 to 17 our DateSmart program is an empowering journey toward safe and healthy dating practices. Each youth session is followed by a 30-minute parent/caregiver session that shares the information covered and how they can support their child in developing further these skills.
Throughout our engaging 1.5 hr sessions, participants will:
- Learn vital information on safe dating practices and minimizing potential risks.
- Discover the importance of setting and protecting boundaries for healthy relationships.
- Focus on making informed choices to steer clear of impulsive and risky behaviours.
- Engage in weekly DateSmart topics, interactive videos, and practical demonstrations to avoid and address potential dating challenges.
- Participate in lively group discussions and immersive role-playing exercises, offering real-world scenarios to practice response strategies.
Topics covered include:
- Understanding, setting, and protecting personal boundaries.
- Developing DateSmart practices for safer dating experiences.
- Making informed and responsible choices in dating situations.
- Learning to listen for and respect personal boundaries and boundaries of others.
Enroll in our DateSmart program and empower yourself with the knowledge and skills to navigate dating safely and responsibly, ensuring positive and respectful relationships.
Job Readiness (8 Sessions)
Ages: 11 – 17
8 Sessions
Cost: $800
Welcome, teens seeking job readiness skills, to our Job Ready program—an empowering journey towards employment preparedness! Join us as we embark on a transformative path designed to equip you with practical skills and confidence to kickstart your job search journey.
Throughout our engaging 1.5 hr sessions, participants will:
- Explore and understand their unique skills, interests, strengths, and areas for improvement, setting the foundation for confident job applications and interviews.
- Navigate the job market with ease, learning effective job search strategies and where to find opportunities.
- Master the art of crafting impressive cover letters and resumes that stand out to potential employers.
- Hone interview preparation skills, from planning and practicing to excelling in the interview room.
- Dive into the essential dos and don’ts of interviews, ensuring a confident and impactful performance.
- Embrace workplace etiquette, learning the key principles of professional conduct and behaviour.
Topics covered include:
- Self-discovery to identify individual skills, interests, strengths, and areas for growth.
- Job application strategies and effective search techniques.
- Crafting impactful cover letters and resumes.
- Interview preparation and mastering interview etiquette for success.
- Understanding workplace etiquette and professional behaviour.
Join us in this empowering program and pave your way toward a successful employment journey. Enroll now and gain the tools and confidence needed to step into the workforce with readiness and assurance!
Fly’n Solo (12 Sessions)
Ages: 11 – 17
12 Sessions
Cost: $1350
🌟 Empower Your Teen for Independence! 🌟
Introducing “Flying Solo,” a transformative group program crafted specifically for autistic youth! We understand the importance of nurturing independence and real-life skills essential for navigating the world confidently. These active 1.5 hour group sessions encompass the following and more!
🛒 Shopping & Cooking Skills: Learn to shop smart and prepare delicious meals independently.
🚌 Navigating City Transit: Master the art of traveling through the city with ease and confidence.
🌆 Engaging Community Members: Build social skills by interacting confidently and asking questions.
🤝 Cooperation with Peers: Develop teamwork and collaboration in various social settings.
🚦 Street Safety & Uncertainty: Navigate uncertain situations and ensure safety in everyday scenarios.
Our experienced team provides tailored support for each participant, fostering growth in a safe, inclusive environment.
🌟 Enroll Your Child Today! 🌟
Equip your teen with the tools to thrive independently. Join “Flying Solo” and watch them soar confidently into a world of new possibilities!
📞 Contact us now to secure your child’s spot and unlock their potential for independence!