Social Skills Groups for Teens and Tweens Who Struggle to Make and Keep Friends
When your teen or tween wants friends but struggles socially — or keeps getting left out — our South Jersey 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.
Our PEERS® Social Skills Groups in South Jersey 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.
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 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 their child becomes more comfortable.
Real Results from Families in Our PEERS® Social Skills Groups
Social Communication Support from a Speech-Language Pathologist
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
These groups run like a class. Our engaging lessons explicitly teach the what, why and how of everyday interactions — from how to enter conversations to what to say when someone teases you to making plans with new friends.
For bright, 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 can relax in our comfortable Parent Room, grab some coffee, and watch sessions via a live video feed — so you’re connected and informed.
✔ Clear instruction
✔ Predictable format
✔ Designed for lasting change
✔ Integrated parent trainingView schedule of PEERS Social Skills Groups
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Low-pressure, real-world connection
Game Days are lightly facilitated hangouts for tweens and teens who struggle to connect in typical settings.
Some need a safe, inclusive place where they can have fun, get to know others, and develop friendships.
There is no formal teaching, but light social coaching is provided when needed.
Game Days are perfect for those who:
✔ Want social opportunities without pressure
✔ Feel isolated in typical peer spaces
✔ Desire connectionPlease schedule a free social skills consultation to ensure the setting is a good fit.
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For homeschool families with neurodivergent teens and tweens
A daytime social group designed specifically for homeschool families who want meaningful peer interaction in a welcoming, low-pressure environment.
Through fun, lightly guided games and conversation-based activities, students build real friendships, practice social skills, and grow in confidence within a consistent peer group.
There is no formal teaching, but light social coaching is provided when needed.
Homeschool Game Days are perfect for those who:
✔ Want social opportunities without pressure
✔ Feel isolated
✔ Desire connectionPlease schedule a free social skills consultation to ensure the setting is a good fit.
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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 and Options
Middle School Social Skills Groups - PEERS® Group Schedules
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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)
Girl’s Group
Wednesdays at 6:00
July 8th - August 12th
Boy’s Group
Wednesdays at 6:45
July 8th - August 12th
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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)
Girl’s Group
TBD
Boy’s Group
Thursdays at 6:45
July 9th - August 13th
High School Social Skills Groups - PEERS® Group Schedules
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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)
Girl’s Group
Mondays at 6:00
July 6th - August 10th
Boy’s Group
Mondays at 6:45
July 6th - August 10th
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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)
Girl’s Group
TBD
Boy’s Group
TBD
Game Days
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Yes — when groups are structured and coached (not just “hang out time”).
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, the goal is for those skills to 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, children often gain confidence as they experience more successful social interactions.
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Each session includes direct teaching, 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
Then they practice sending their intended messages through structured activities and conversation so it begins to feels natural outside of 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 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.
Click here to schedule your free social skills consultation.
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.
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A free consultation is required for all families prior to beginning services (including Game Nights).
Game Nights
Families can pre-register for the current term to enjoy a reduced rate
Drop-ins are welcome, space permitting
Social Skills Groups
Pre-registration is required
Schedule your free consultation or see if we have room for a Game Night drop-in on our scheduling page.
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During Game Nights, 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 and coach them from 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 owner, 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 South Jersey
Cheerful Chatter is located in Haddonfield, NJ and serves families throughout Camden County, Burlington County, Gloucester County, and the greater Philadelphia area.
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.