Social Skills Groups for Teens and Tweens Who Want Friends but Struggle Socially — in Haddonfield, NJ
When your teen or tween wants friends but struggles socially — or keeps getting left out — our Haddonfield, NJ social skills groups help children and teens build confidence and real friendships.
Social Help for Teens and Tweens Who Struggle with Friendships
Is your child or teenager bright, funny, and kind — but friendships still feel confusing or hard to maintain?
Some parents notice their teen spending more time alone or quietly worry,
“My child has no friends.”
Families often reach out when they see:
Difficulty with conversations
Missing social cues
Being left out of peer groups
Friendships that start, but don’t last
Social dynamic got harder when they entered middle or high school
The good news is social skills can be learned… and we offer two great options!
Our PEERS® Social Skills Groups help children and teens — including neurodivergent learners — learn and practice the skills that make friendships work.
Instead of just talking about social skills, participants learn the ”what, why, and how” behind real social strategies and then practice together.
In PEERS® Groups, children and teens learn how to:
Start and maintain conversations
Read social cues and body language
Join group activities appropriately
Handle teasing, bullying, conflict, or misunderstandings
Build and maintain real friendships
Our Game Days offer a relaxed, fun environment where kids and teens can practice social skills while playing games or hanging out with peers.
For many children — especially teens who feel unsure about joining a group — Game Days are an easier first step. Many transition into PEERS® Social Skills Groups when they become more comfortable.
Real Results from Haddonfield, NJ Families in Our PEERS® Social Skills Groups
Social Communication Support from a Speech Therapist
Friendships depend on communication — understanding tone, reading social cues, taking conversational turns, and navigating group dynamics.
Speech-language pathologists are trained to support social communication differences, helping children and teens interact more successfully with peers.
Our groups provide structured opportunities to practice these skills with real peers in a supportive, neurodivergent-friendly environment.
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Structured, evidence-based skill building using an internationally-renowned program for teens
These groups run like a class. Instead of just talking about skills, our engaging lessons explicitly teach the what, why and how behind everyday interactions — from how to enter conversations to what to say when someone teases you to making plans with new friends.
Then the kids practice together in real time.
For verbal kids who haven’t “just picked it up,” we make the invisible social rules visible and understandable in a way that supports all minds.
Parents are asked to relax in our comfortable Parent Room and watch sessions via a live video feed — so you’re connected and informed.
✔ Clear instruction
✔ Predictable format
✔ Designed for lasting change
✔ Integrated parent trainingSchedule a free social skills consultation for a personalized recommendation
Schedule a free social skills consultation →
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Low-pressure social practice, real-world connection
A small, evening social group for up to eight neurodivergent tweens and teens who want meaningful peer interactions in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Through fun, lightly guided games and conversation-based activities, students connect with peers, practice social skills, and build confidence.
For students who feel unsure about joining a structured group, Game Days can be a comfortable first step — and many families use them before transitioning into a PEERS® Social Skills Group.
Please schedule a free social skills consultation to ensure the setting is a good fit.
Free social skills consultation →
Game Days pricing, discount package & schedule (click “classes”) →
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Low-pressure social practice, real-world connection
A small daytime social group for up to eight homeschooling neurodivergent children and teens who want meaningful peer interactions in a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Through fun, lightly guided games and conversation-based activities, students connect with peers, practice social skills, and build confidence.
For students who feel unsure about joining a structured group, Game Days can be a comfortable first step — and many families use them before transitioning into a PEERS® Social Skills Group.
Please schedule a free social skills consultation to ensure the setting is a good fit.
Free social skills consultation →
Game Days pricing, discount package & schedule (click “classes”) →
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Many participate in both a PEERS® Social Skills Group and a Game Day 🧠 + 🎯 = 🚀
In Group, they learn skills. At Game Days, they develop flexibility with new skills and strengthen friendships through shared experiences.
✔ Skill building
✔ Lasting change
✔ Real connection
✔ Sense of belongingIndividual Services 🧠
Individual services are always available for those who need a different schedule, teletherapy, or more individualized support.
Social Skills Groups for Teens and Tweens: Programs in Haddonfield, NJ
To help every student feel comfortable and successful, we offer various group formats. Students are placed with peers who communicate and learn in similar ways so conversations and activities feel natural for everyone.
PEERS® Social Skills Groups: Summer 2026
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PEERS® groups designed for middle schoolers who communicate easily in conversation but need help navigating friendships, social cues, and peer dynamics.
Our Summer 2026 Groups will focus on basic interaction skills like understanding and using body language, perspective-taking, and conversation skills (all of which are needed for making & keeping friends)
7 sessions, 45 minutes each
Limited to 7 students per group to allow for guided practice and individualized feedback.
Online parent support is available on Fridays, 2:00-3:00 pm.
Program Tuition: $700 for the 7-session program, weekly parent support, and one free make-up
Girl’s Group
Thursdays at 7:00
July 8th - August 19th
Boy’s Group
Wednesdays at 7:00
July 8th - August 19th
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PEERS® groups designed for high schoolers who communicate easily in conversation but need help navigating friendships, social cues, and peer dynamics.
Our Summer 2026 Groups will focus on basic interaction skills like understanding and using body language, perspective-taking and conversation skills (all of which are needed for making & keeping friends)
7 sessions, 45 minutes each
Limited to 7 teens per group to allow for guided practice and individualized feedback.
Online parent support is available on Fridays, 2:00-3:00 pm.
Program Tuition: $700 for the 7-session program, weekly parent support, and one free make-up
Boy’s Group
Mondays at 7:00
July 6th - August 17th
Girl’s Group
TBD
Game Days for Kids, Teens & Homeschoolers
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Yes — when groups are structured, evidence-based, and when they facilitate practice with feedback.
In our groups, social skills are broken down, explained, and practiced step-by-step. Children and teens learn what to do, why it works, and how to use it in real situations.
Then they practice those skills with real peers — getting feedback and coaching in the moment. Over time, those skills carry over to lunch tables, group projects, clubs, sports, and weekend plans.
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Many children and teens who join social skills groups feel unsure about social situations or have had difficult peer experiences.
Our groups provide a supportive, neurodivergent-friendly environment where participants can practice new skills with peers who are working on similar challenges.
Over time, new skills lead to more successful social interactions and those interactions lead to more confidence.
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Sessions include direct teaching, video modeling, guided practice, and real-time coaching. Children and teens learn how to send the signals and messages they want by exploring:
What they could do
What they could say
How they could say it
How it might be received
Then they practice sending their intended messages through role-play activities and conversations. Over time, the strategies they learn begin to feel natural and are used outside of the group.
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PEERS® groups teach practical, research, and evidence-based strategies for building and maintaining friendships, as well as handling difficult social situations.
There are numerous topics! They include understanding and using body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice; figuring out what the other person thinks, feels, and wants to do; handling teasing, bullying, and other forms of conflict; conversation skills, entering and exiting group conversations, using humor appropriately, and maintaining friendships over time.
Questions about Friendships and Social Skills Groups for Teens and Tweens
How Do I Get Started?
Start with a free consultation.
We’ll talk through what you’re seeing at home and school, recommend the best entry point (PEERS® Group or Game Day), and share upcoming options that fit your child’s age and needs.
Questions About Social Communication Help for Teens and Tweens
Reach out anytime if you have more questions or are ready to enroll.
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Game Nights may have up to 8 per group while Social Skills Groups are limited to 5 per group.
Groups are small by design so that each member get individual attention and time to practice.
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A free consultation is required for all families prior to beginning services (including Game Days).
Game Days
Sign up online in advance
Social Skills Groups
Pre-registration is required
Schedule a free consultation with a speech therapist →
View our Game Days schedule, pricing, and discount packages (click on “classes”) →
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During Game Days, parents may leave the office suite. However, we ask you to stay nearby in case of an emergency or illness.
During Social Skills Groups, parents are asked to stay and observe a live feed of the group from our Parent Room. That way, you’ll have all the knowledge and know-how needed to help them practice their new skills at home… a crucial element for true and lasting progress.
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Both!
We use structured, evidence-based programs to teach missing skills. Some methods are linguistic while others are behavioral or cognitive.
We use a holistic approach to teach specific, abstract skills in a clear and concrete way. Some may consider that “therapy,” but it is not open-ended, talk therapy.
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Yes. Advanced pragmatic language, social communication, behavioral, and cognitive skills are needed if one wants to be successful during moments of bullying and other forms of peer conflict.
Our advanced groups and individual services address those skills.
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Yes, our skills-based groups and individual services are provided by our founder, Ellen McSpadden, MA, CCC-SLP, CAS… a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Autism Specialist, and Certified Provider of PEERS® for School-Based Ages, Young Adults, and Telehealth.
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They often do. Communication skills include both language and speech clarity. Some children who struggle socially also benefit from speech clarity support or reading and literacy intervention.
Social Skills Groups for Teens and Tweens in Haddonfield, NJ
Families often travel to our Haddonfield office from communities including Cinnaminson, Cherry Hill, Deptford, Evesham, Marlton, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Medford, Washington Township, Voorhees, and surrounding South Jersey towns.
If you're searching for social skills groups for teens or tweens in South Jersey, we invite you to start with a free social skills consultation to learn more about upcoming groups.