Social Superheroes

Description

Social Superheroes is a dynamic, flexible group built around the award-winning Social Thinking® curriculum, created by Michelle Garcia Winner and used in schools and clinics across North America.

This group helps children become social problem solvers — learning to think about others, understand different perspectives, and build stronger relationships by choosing more effective social responses.

We use books such as:

You Are a Social Detective! (Winner & Crooke, 2020)
Superflex: A Superhero Social Thinking Curriculum (Winner, Madrigal & Crooke, 2008)

Through these stories and lessons, children begin to understand not just what to do, but why it matters — even when it’s hard or not their first choice.

What Makes This Group Different?

Unlike groups with fixed lessons, Social Superheroes adapts its content based on the real-world challenges that arise from the children themselves. After the first session, our team identifies each child’s key needs and builds a plan that includes topics such as:

Thinking about others’ thoughts and feelings, not just your own
Understanding why someone might act in a certain way, even if it wasn’t kind
Recognizing small problems vs. big problems, and responding accordingly
Accepting when things don’t go in your way — and still staying and engage in part of the group
Respecting personal space, tone, and body language
Navigating group dynamics: joining play, negotiating, compromising
Knowing why we listen, even when it’s not our favorite topic
Expressing frustration or confusion clearly, rather than acting out or withdrawing themselves

This is the next step for children who have already practiced basic social rules — now they’re ready to explore the deeper “why” of relationships.

3 Routines

While themes may shift based on the group’s needs, a typical session may include:

Welcome & Social Story Recap – revisit a theme from Social Detective or Superflex
Group Discussion & Problem Solving – talk through a real or imagined scenario
Skill Focus Practice – e.g., “What could I do instead?”, “How did it make them feel?”
Superflex Challenge Activity – obstacle course, card game related to the day’s theme
Free Play & Application Time – structured play with skill embedded facilitation
Wrap-Up Reflection – celebrate wins and preview the next week’s mission

Lessons are layered with humor, storytelling, visuals, and hands-on experiences to keep kids engaged while tackling complex ideas.

[Example Activities]

Here are some of the skills we might explore over time, depending on the group’s profile:

“What are they thinking?” – perspective-taking and mind reading through visuals
“Unexpected vs. expected” behaviors – how they impact group harmony
“Even when I’m not interested…” – showing social curiosity and staying present
“Tiny problem or big problem?” – emotional regulation through size-matching
“The invisible backpack” – understanding that others have thoughts and feelings
“Superflex vs. Rock Brain” – staying flexible when plans change
“Stop, Think, and Tell” – communicating clearly when things go wrong
“Why should I listen?” – linking executive function to real-world connection

✅ Is This the Right Group for Your Child?

Q: My child has good language skills, but struggles with friendships. Will this help?

A: Yes — Social Superheroes is perfect for children who can talk, but struggle to listen, understand others, or respond in socially flexible ways. Many children this age begin to fall behind in peer connection because they miss the deeper “why” of social interaction.

Q: What if my child gets upset easily or doesn’t want to follow instructions?

A: That’s okay. This group teaches how to regulate emotion and behavior when things don’t go your way, using real-time practice, coaching, and safe group discussion. We don’t expect perfection — just willingness to learn.

Q: My child already knows the rules — they just don’t apply them.

A: Then this is the right place. Social Superheroes moves beyond surface-level rules and focuses on understanding what to do and why, even when it’s not easy or preferred. That’s where true growth happens.

Q: What kind of child is this group best for?

A: This group is ideal for children who: