PA Cyber program teaches social skills for student
New program aims to help PA Cyber parents, students with social skills
Group setting encourages sharing, support from among families
HARRSIBRUG – A new program aimed at teaching parents how to strengthen their child’s social behavior is to be held at the Harrisburg Support Center and online.
The Strategies of Social Skills for Parents is open to all PA Cyber parents and caregivers in the Harrisburg area, said PA Cyber Instructional Supervisor and program organizer Kelly Ruzzi. The classes will be available online as well.
“Social skills are more than just good manners and a set of pre-determined behaviors,” explained Ruzzi. “Many children experience isolation, rejection and/or trouble making friends in social situations. This class will help parents identify deficits and learn the skills to help their child feel more connected.”
Ruzzi, who has a background in mental-health case work and special education, said when learning social behaviors, some children require more direct instruction through understanding, patience and use in daily life. ”Parents know their child best, have their trust and are best equipped to teach their own children. This group can give them the tools and strategies to do so.”
The classes will cover a different social skill each month, with the first part of the class being a lesson and the second part being a chance for parents to share their experiences, ask questions and gain support from each other. “We’ll discuss strategies for certain situations and I’ll also give parents something to do, research or an activity, that we can discuss in the next group,” said Ruzzi.
She noted that the information taught during the session is both proven strategies and skills she’s gathered through her work. “I pull from my own experience and education as well as techniques taught by experts including Michelle Garcia-Winner and Carol Gray.” Garcia-Winner is a clinical speech and language pathologist and published author on social cognition and behavior; Gray is the founder of The Gray Center for social learning and understanding.
The Strategies for Social Skills class is held the last Tuesday of every month from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Harrisburg Support Center and online on server four and via Interwise. Interested parents and families are asked to RSVP to Kelly at 1.888.722.9237, ext. 1734 or via email at kelly.ruzzi@pacyber.org.
The Harrisburg Support Center is located at 479 Port View Drive, Building C-38, Harrisburg, PA., 17111.
-Toni Cicone
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