Group Programs for
Early Development
A range of group programs, each designed with varying levels of support, to help your child prepare for and gain comfort in group environments and social connection/friendship.
Looking for an inclusive and supportive space for your child to build group engagement and social connection?
You are looking for a group program that both welcomes and accepts your child while giving them a positive experience with group environments and enhancing their abilities to connect with others. You want to support your child in gaining comfort being in groups, but you also know your child needs to build foundational skills for having positive experiences in groups and playing with peers. If you are seeking a group program for your child’s early development of group engagement, communication, regulation, and peer relationship skills, keep reading to learn more about our available groups!
Where do I begin?
Understanding your child’s support needs and readiness for a group environment can be tricky! We know that ALL parents want their children to thrive in social situations, and we’re here to help your child build the skills they need to do just that! We offer TWO different programs, each with different levels of support and group size, to introduce your child to the idea of groups and to the idea of peer interactions.
At Pathways, we understand no two children are the same and that some need more support and more time to develop their group/peer skills than others. We have designed our two Group Programs for Early Development to offer something for all children, at all stages of social development. Children commonly start out in services/programs with more support and move on to groups needing less support!
Read the following descriptions for our three programs and reach out to our team if you aren’t sure which program is right for your child!
Pathways Primer
(More support, 1:1 ratio)
A parent-attended, play-based, and “preschool”-like program that offers a weekly 1.25-hour class. There are a maximum of 5 children in each Primer class. Parents attend each class with their child and work towards both child-based and parent-based goals for supporting each child’s development.
Each Primer class is jointly led by a professional Speech-Language Pathologist and an Occupational Therapist to offer a uniquely-beneficial co-treatment opportunity for young children needing to build communication, regulation, group engagement, and peer interaction skills.
Ideally targeted for children aged 2-to-6-years.
Children can participate in multiple semesters. Eligible for insurance benefits, Autism Funding, and Jordan’s Principle.
Playgroups
(Less support, 1:3 ratio, 3-child max.)
A small group introduction to playing with peers in weekly 50-minute sessions. This is great for children ready and able to separate from caregivers and who do not need 1:1 support for safety and regulation. Playgroups are not parent-attended sessions.
A playgroup involves a small grouping of 2-3 children of similar ages and/or developmental abilities and areas of interest.
A playgroup is facilitated by a Speech-Language Pathologist or Occupational Therapist to support communication and regulation (respectively) while simultaneously encouraging and supporting play and social connection amongst the children. Eligible for insurance benefits, Autism Funding program, and Jordan’s Principle.
How do I register my child?
These programs are available ONLY to internal clients of Pathways clinicians; your child must be an existing and active client of our clinical team and be referred directly into one of these programs by your clinician.
We understand many new families want access to these programs; however, our team cares deeply about ensuring each child’s success in our programming. By being an active client with one of our clinicians, we can make specific program recommendations into the right program for your child based on accurate and current knowledge of your child’s exact abilities and needs, as well as their play style and interests. Without knowing your child, their needs, or their abilities, it is impossible for our team to know which program is right for them.
>>> Interested in becoming a client and discussing these amazing programs with a clinician?
>>> Looking to connect with our team to find out if these programs could be a good fit for your child?
>>> Really unsure of your next step but know you want to help your child’s group/social/peer development?
Click the button below to fill out our contact form OR you can email Ally, our Program & Advocacy Director, and she will be happy to get you connected to our services and programs! (ally@pathwayslearning.ca)