Social Skills Training for Children with Autism

Social Skills Program

Your child deserves real friendships. Our Beyond the Bell program gives them the tools and the practice to build them. We provide structured sessions designed for children ages 5 and up – individualized goals, practiced in real peer interactions with BCBA oversight. We teach:

  • How to start and maintain a conversation
  • Reading facial expressions and social cues
  • Taking turns and sharing during play
  • Understanding others’ feelings and perspectives
  • Handling frustration and unexpected changes

Find a Program Near You

If your child wants to connect but doesn’t quite know how -you’re not alone.

Maybe your child stands at the edge of the playground, watching the other kids play but not joining in. Maybe they came home from a birthday party without talking to anyone, even though you know they wanted to. Maybe they’ve told you they don’t have any friends- and you felt the weight of those words long after bedtime.

Social challenges are one of the most common concerns parents of autistic children bring to us. And one of the most important things we can tell you is this: social skills can be taught. They are not a fixed trait. They are a set of learnable tools – and applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is the most evidence-backed way to teach them.

Beyond the Bell was built specifically for this. Not as a supplement. As a solution.

“It has been exciting to watch our clients progress in such a short period of time. This is such a fun and engaging program – I am looking forward to all the skills and friendships that will result from it.”

Molly Adams, Vice President of Clinical Compliance, Behavioral Innovations

Find our Social Skills Programs Near You

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Signs your child may benefit from social skills training

Every child is different. These are some of the patterns families tell us they noticed before enrolling – broken down by age.

Early school years (Ages 5-7)

  • Your child hangs back on the playground even when they clearly want to play
  • They struggle to take turns or share during games – not from defiance, but from confusion
  • They don’t seem to notice when someone is upset or uncomfortable
  • Pretend play or imaginative games feel confusing or uninteresting to them
  • They have difficulty making or keeping friends their age
  • They prefer to play alone, even when other children try to include them

Older elementary years (Ages 8-10)

  • Conversations feel one-sided – your child talks about their interests but doesn’t know when to pause or ask questions
  • They miss humor, sarcasm, or indirect language and take things too literally
  • Social situations create real anxiety or meltdowns
  • They struggle with losing, unexpected changes, or not getting their way
  • Teachers mention that your child has difficulty in group work or unstructured time
  • They’ve started to express loneliness, or you’ve noticed them withdrawing

Si observa alguno de los síntomas anteriores en su hijo, podría beneficiarse de la formación en habilidades sociales. Envíe un breve formulario para hablar con un asesor de admisión sobre la inscripción.

Talk to an Intake Advocate

What a Beyond the Bell session looks like

Real skills. Real friendships.

Progress in Beyond the Bell looks different for every child – but it’s always specific and observable. Not “doing better socially.” More like this:

  • Your child starts a conversation with a peer at recess – unprompted.
  • They lose a board game and stay in the moment instead of shutting down.
  • They invite a classmate to play – and know what to do when the classmate says yes.
  • They notice a friend looks sad and ask what’s wrong.
  • They ask a question in a group and wait for the answer before jumping in again.

Start the conversation

You’re part of the program and that’s a good thing.

We know you’re already doing a lot. Our parent involvement is designed to work with your schedule, not add to your load. Regular check-ins with your child’s BCBA give you concrete, practical strategies to reinforce what your child is learning at home so the skills they build in our center carry into every part of their life.

We’ve seen it clearly: children make faster, more lasting progress when their families are part of the process. That’s not a burden, it’s a partnership.

  • Regular BCBA check-ins: One-on-one meetings to review your child’s progress, celebrate wins, and adjust the plan.
  • Home strategy coaching: Specific, simple techniques to reinforce skills at mealtimes, during activities, and in everyday routines.
  • Transparent data sharing: You see exactly what your child is working on and how they’re progressing.
  • Advocacy support: We help you communicate your child’s needs to their school and other providers.
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Testimonios

Escuche a nuestras familias

The team has been incredibly supportive, patient, and knowledgeable from day one. They truly care about each child’s progress and make families feel heard and […]
The team has been incredibly supportive, patient, and knowledgeable from day one. They truly care about each child’s progress and make families feel heard and included every step of the way. I’ve already seen positive growth in my son, and I’m so grateful for their dedication and compassion. Highly recommend to any family starting their autism journey!
Susan O April, 2026
Behavioral Innovations is one of the best decisions I’ve made for my son. I was very nervous leaving my then non verbal child somewhere for […]
Behavioral Innovations is one of the best decisions I’ve made for my son. I was very nervous leaving my then non verbal child somewhere for the first time but this center has helped our family so much. I feel the staff really cares about my child and uses techniques that cater to his way of learning and making it fun while and also supporting me as a parent! He has come a long way, grown so much and now does things I wasn’t sure he would be able to thanks to Behavioral Innovations.
Talia M April, 2026
Behavioral Innovations has changed my family’s lives! My son has been going for 2 years, and it has made the biggest difference. He loves going, […]
Behavioral Innovations has changed my family’s lives! My son has been going for 2 years, and it has made the biggest difference. He loves going, and it has been amazing to see all the growth and progress he has made. All the staff are wonderful – friendly front desk and amazing the therapists who truly care about the kids. Highly recommend!
Jessica K April, 2026
The staff here are absolutely phenomenal with my son and have helped him in many ways. Even though it has only been a few months, […]
The staff here are absolutely phenomenal with my son and have helped him in many ways. Even though it has only been a few months, he has grown so much and continues to learn new things every day! The positivity in this center is hands down one of the best things about them. Any questions or concerns I have they answer quickly and efficiently. Huge shout out to the BI team!
Shelby B April, 2026
The care provided at BI is truly exceptional. They consistently offer personalized attention to every individual, demonstrating a deep and genuine care for each child […]
The care provided at BI is truly exceptional. They consistently offer personalized attention to every individual, demonstrating a deep and genuine care for each child receiving their services. From the front office staff, to everyone in the back you can tell they love what they do.
Mayra B April, 2026
Having a child with autism takes a village and I can gladly say everyone here at BI is family. My son has been here a […]
Having a child with autism takes a village and I can gladly say everyone here at BI is family. My son has been here a little over a year and it has been amazing every step of the way! Since the day I stopped by to check out the center the center administrator was there to greet me with the biggest smile and welcoming energy! From that day forward I knew this is where we were supposed to be! The communication here is great and they are always keeping me updated on all the amazing things my son is achieving. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without the amazing love and support from the team here at Behavioral innovation.
Alyssa G April, 2026
Behavioral Innovations has been an amazing place for my toddler. Since attending daily, he has made so much progress in both communication and overall skills. […]
Behavioral Innovations has been an amazing place for my toddler. Since attending daily, he has made so much progress in both communication and overall skills. He went from being nonverbal to now expressing himself in ways we once thought would take much longer. The staff is patient, supportive, and truly dedicated to each child’s growth. I’m so grateful for the positive impact they’ve had on his development. Thank you to the staff & BI RBT’s and BCBA for your service & support!! I definitely recommend to any parents who wants their child to thrive!!!
Aileen C April, 2026
My boys feel so safe and taken care of at behavioral innovations. They are constantly learning how to overcome challenges and gaining skills that help […]
My boys feel so safe and taken care of at behavioral innovations. They are constantly learning how to overcome challenges and gaining skills that help them in everyday life. We truly appreciate the above and beyond care the staff at behavioral innovations provides.
Jenna V April, 2026
We absolutely LOVEEEEEE BI! Since starting at BI, we’ve seen so much improvement in her! She loves going to see her techs and she always […]
We absolutely LOVEEEEEE BI! Since starting at BI, we’ve seen so much improvement in her! She loves going to see her techs and she always gets so excited to go to “school” 🙂 They’re very easy to communicate with – very sweet and caring!
Shirley V January, 2026
We love, love, love BI! They have been instrumental in developing our daughter into a bright, curious and very vocal child. I can’t thank BI […]
We love, love, love BI! They have been instrumental in developing our daughter into a bright, curious and very vocal child. I can’t thank BI enough for the love, kindness and care that they’ve shown us. Thank you!
Matthew W January, 2026

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