Support for Special Needs Teenager to Build Confidence, Friendships, and Social Success
As teenagers grow up, friendships and social life become a big part of their world. For many teenagers with special needs, this can also be the time when they begin to struggle more with friendships, conversations, or feeling included.
At Kidz Steps Centre, we understand how important it is to give the right social support to special needs teenager — so they can build confidence, develop real friendships, and enjoy positive social experiences.
Our PEERS® Social Skills Training Program is specially designed for special needs teenager who want to improve their social skills and peer relationships. This well-researched program teaches step-by-step skills that teens can practice in their daily life.
Why Social Support and Social Skills Training Are So Important for Special Needs Teenager
As children with special needs grow into teenagers, their social world changes a lot. What worked when they were younger often no longer works the same way. Many parents notice that their teenager starts to struggle more with friendships, conversations, or feeling included.
One reason is that teenage friendships and conversations become more complicated compared to the younger years. Teenagers talk differently — using more complex language, humor, and their own ways of interacting. At this stage, they are expected to take a more active role in making and keeping friendships. For special needs teenager, this is often not easy to do on their own — whether they have Autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, or emotional challenges.
At the same time, the need to feel connected and accepted by peers becomes much stronger during the teen years. All teenagers want to belong and have friends. But when they struggle to connect with others, it can affect their self-confidence and self-esteem. Many special needs teenager may feel lonely or left out, which can lead to anxiety, low mood, or even avoiding school.
That is why giving social support to special needs teenager is so important — especially through social skills training. It is much better for them to learn important skills — such as having conversations, building and maintaining friendships, understanding others’ feelings, and handling teasing or conflicts — while they are still in school. School is a more supportive and protected environment. If they wait until adulthood to learn these skills, it is much harder because the adult social world is more complicated and less forgiving.
What Your Teen Will Learn in This Training
In our PEERS® Social Skills Training Program, your teen will learn practical and useful skills, including:
- How to use appropriate conversational skills
- How to use appropriate humor
- How to use electronic communication
- How to handle rumors and gossip
- How to be get close with someone
- How to choose appropriate friends
- How to be a good sport
- How to handle arguments with peers
- How to change a bad reputation
- How to handle teasing and bullying
Ready to Help Your Teen Build Better Friendships?
If you would like to know more about our upcoming PEERS® Social Skills Training Program — or how we can support your teenager — feel free to contact us at Kidz Steps Centre. We are here to help your teen grow in confidence and enjoy positive social connections!
