Social Skills Unscripted

I'm going through a 'life phase' right now where I'm learning and doing and trying a bunch of new things. 

Some days I feel a bit frustrated that I didn't know some of these things sooner, or that I have never done something like this before, or that I'm as old as I am and this is all new to me....

Last week a friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook of a message board with a cryptic message that I couldn't uncrack. I scrolled through the comments and saw that it's 'court reporter speak'. I have zero familiarity with this 'language', and seeing it made me even more confused as to how it's a...

Any time we learn something new, there's also some unlearning that has to happen. That's what has been going on in our groups: I am helping students unlearn what they THINK friendship is. Over the years, I've realized and recognized several different misconceptions our kids have when it comes to who...

I really love learning new things, especially when those things help me figure out more about myself. I had no idea that was going to be the case when I scheduled an interview with this week's guest, Niki McGlynn.

The more Niki talked about her work with primitive reflexes, the more I realized s...

One of the most important needs we all have as humans (once our basic needs are met) is the need to be seen for who we are. 

If you think about the people in your life that are the most important to you, chances are it's because they make you feel seen for who you are. They love you, they care a...

Have you ever noticed how much the way you were raised influences the way you parent/teach? Honestly, I think it was a big factor in my decision to NOT have kids.

These human brains of ours only know what we've been exposed to, so they carry on with what we have been taught or have experienced. ...

The number one reason parents register their kids for either the group program here at Starfish Social Club or my 1/1 support is because they recognize their child doesn't have friends. This can be a very emotional and pivotal point for parents.

But you know what event may be even more important...

One of the things I really enjoy about being an adult is being able to figure out what I need to be happy and functional. It has taken me a while to be honest, but I'm grateful to have the autonomy to know what I need and be able to integrate the things I need into my life.

Our kids often don't ...

My main goal here at Starfish Social Club is helping kids learn the skills and strategies that make it easier for them to make friends. While we all notice when our kids are struggling socially, I don't think we always realize how much it can impact the quality of their lives. 

I came across thi...

When I was little, the situation that was most likely to cause me to melt down was having to wear shoes. I HATED wearing shoes. I spent a lot of my childhood in Jellies. (If you don't remember Jellies, they were my generation's version of Crocs.)  

One of the big challenges with the things that ...

Welcome back!

 Have you ever thought about how much your ability to communicate shapes your life?

 This has been on my mind a lot recently. From moving to a place where I don't know anyone to traveling to countries where English isn't the native language, I've become very aware of how my ability t...

I am often part of conversations about the need to parent and teach our nontraditional kids in nontraditional ways. Sometimes I'm even leading these discussions. Usually this has to do with the way we utilize incentives, consequences, resources, accommodations, teaching strategies, etc. 

One way...