Book Description

Some children and young adolescents find it much harder to learn and flexibly use social skills. They can struggle with making friends, joining in, reading others' feelings, bouncing back constructively following an upset, coping with put-downs or just dealing appropriately with day to day frustrations. "What's the Buzz?" is an easy-to-implement, 16 lesson play-based social skills training program that will improve student confidence, relationships and reduce conflict. Written for teachers who support children and adolescents who may struggle with life for a variety of reasons, this book will help them to: expand their socialisation skills, for example, 'how-to' meet people and be friendly, gain attention in positive ways, follow instructions, give compliments and maintain conversations; understand their feelings and develop an emotional resiliency to better cope with the inevitable emotional highs and lows life offers; learn 'how-to' read the feelings of others and appropriately respond to their needs; value positive thinking, for example, how-to stay calm under pressure, deal with worry, handle disappointment and best respond to put-downs and bullying; and, participate in play-based activities and games, so that they acquire skills incidentally. Designed for use in schools by teachers, school counsellors, special needs co-ordinators, teaching assistants, parents and allied health professionals, the role plays, games and team building activities presented in each lesson will help to build class unity and cohesion, whilst the template format allows students to experience success, feel confident and be ready to develop more complex skills.