Agenda for Social Skill Training

The Dallas County Youth Village

The Youth Village Foundation

Defining Social Skills:

Social – Having to do with people living in groups: enjoying friendly companionship with others.

Skills – Ability to gain through practice; expertise.

Training Objectives:

• Understanding the social skills
• To familiarize and memorize social skills
• How the social skill transcend the Youth Village
• Practical application of social skills
• Staff Role Modeling the social skills
• Negotiation rather than domination
• Pulling it all together

Social Skills

1. Accepting “No”.
2. Asking Permission
3. Conversing with Peers and Adults
4. Disagree Appropriately
5. Following Instruction
6. 6. Give Positive and Correct Feed Back
7. Rational Problem Solving
8. Public Behavior
9. Honesty
10. Greeting Skills
11. Use Proper Grammar

Accepting No

Rationale: Prevents problems with persons of authority, demonstrates maturity and the ability to deal with tense situations.

Tasks:

1. Explain misunderstandings without making excuses.
2. Be attentive, i.e., eye contact, acknowledgement, etc.
3. Maintain control of emotional behavior, i.e., refrain from pouting, sulking yelling, muttering under the breath, threatening, throwing, knocking or kicking objects.

Asking Permission

Rationale: Appropriate permission requests demonstrates that the youth is a responsible individual and is respectful of persons of authority, which tends to increase the chances that permission will be granted when possible.

Tasks:

1. Request permission rather than demand it.
2. Request permission from the person who has the authority to grant that permission.

Conversing With Peers and Adults

Rationale: An effective means of making your needs known, having them met, and getting the attention you want from them.

Tasks:

1. Smile, maintain eye contact and good voice level.
2. Give complete answers to questions: refrain from one word answers such as “yes”, “no”, “huh”, or “I don’t know” or “I guess so.”
3. Ask relevant questions about the topic of conversation.
4. Refrain from excessive boasting, talking about old crimes, fights or aggressive acts, negative statements about oneself, name calling, or aggressive statements such as, “I’m going to smash your face in.”

Disagree Appropriately

Rationale: Allows you to express your needs, have input into compromises for settling disagreements, and increases the likelihood that those situations will be in accordance with your wishes.

Tasks:

1. Remain calm.
2. Wait for an appropriate time to state disagreements.
3. Make some positive statements related to the issue before negative statements.
4. State disagreements in specific terms.
5. Refrain from becoming angry, raising voice level, becoming physically or verbally aggressive, or making personal attacks or threats.
6. Listen while others make their points of disagreement.
7. Refrain from interrupting.

Following Instructions

Rationale: Following instructions appropriately increase the chances of positive interactions, avoids wasting time, and leaves more time for oneself.

Tasks:

1. Give eye contact.
2. Make a statement of acknowledgement such as “okay, I understand.”
3. Refrain from talking back, mumbling, cursing, shouting, frowning, arguing, pouting, sulking, aggressive speech, negative statements, and/or complaining about the task assignment or requirements of the task.
4. Wait until instructions are completed before proceeding.
5. Begin task within a short period following the instructions or discuss an appropriate time for beginning the task.
6. Check back when the task in completed for a final “Okay”.

Give Positive and Correct Feedback

Rationale: Feedback indicates tht you are concerned and interested in any accomplishments or problems the other person may have.

Tasks:

1. Express affection in the way of a smile, a special greeting, a pat on the back, etc.
2. Acknowledgment in a positive manner for correct accomplishments.
3. Describe mistakes in a non-threatening manner.
4. Describe and/or demonstrate the appropriate method.
5. Give rationale for appropriate method.
6. Request acknowledgment; i.e., “Do you understand?”
7. Provide immediate feedback for correct performance.
8. Verbally thank others for their help and assistance.

Rational Problem Solving

Rationale: The most effective, constructive, efficient means of dealing with problems.

Tasks:

1. Wait for the appropriate time to express grievances.
2. Maintain eye contact and acknowledge.
3. Make statements without cursing, yelling, or being offensive: refrain from interrupting, arguing, pouting, or sulking.
4. State positive aspects of the situation or disagreement before mentioning the negative.
5. 5. Make specific criticism about specific behaviors or aspects, refraining from general or personal attacks.
6. Offer alternatives rather than just solutions.
7. Remain in the situation and not try to avoid the issue by running away.

Public Behavior

Rationale: Although rowdy conduct usually attracts the attention of others, it generally creates problems with persons of authority, negatively influencing other’s impression of you, and decreases the likelihood that they will approach or interact with you in the future.

Tasks:

1. Conduct oneself in a quiet, orderly fasion in public and at home.
2. Refrain from running, hyelling, slikding on rugs, making odd and unusual noises or gestures, pushing others, fighting, wrestling, slamming doors, or engaging in promiscuous sexual behaviors.

Honesty

Rationale: Your “word” should be of great importance to yourself because it helps to maintain the trust others have in you. Based on your history of honesty, greater latitude in terms of freedom and second chances when needed will more likely be provided.

Tasks:

1. Refrain from stealing, cheating, or making untrue statements with the intent to deceive others.
2. Admit to mistakes.
3. Refrain from deception by omission, i.e., silence or lack of reaction for the purpose of deceiving others.

Greeting Skills

Rationale: Makes meeting people comfortable, makes others feel more comfortable and tends to make a good first impression

Tasks:

1. Introduce oneself, i.e., “How do you do, I’m ________________.”
2. Maintain eye contact, a normal voice tone, smile, and initiate a handshake.

Use Proper Grammar

Rationale: Increases the likelihood that your comments will be understood, attended to, and respected by the listener.

Tasks:

1. Refrain from the repeated use of slang words or expressions.
2. Use complete sentences and proper word order.
3. Refrain from cursing and/or using profane language.