Just how powerful humor and play can be is best evidenced by observing a group of preteen and teens playing non-competitive games that inject humor at every juncture. Humor and play allow us to tap into the right, more emotional side of the brain and they enhance the underdeveloped cognitive functioning of social skills. It is a psycho-physiological experience that can be obtain and used as a tool to teach social skills.
In a world where things are dramatically, and problematically too “systemizing” (Cambridge University psychologist, Simon Baron-Cohen”) for these children, the playfulness of injecting humor into our exercises and games teaches children to accept responsibility and foster flexibility for change in an otherwise rigid world.
-
Develops connectedness Teaches responsibility
-
Increases Awareness of Others
-
Heightens sense of staging – reading the situation at hand.
-
Develops a sense of ‘stewardness'
-
Enhances the freedom to explore without fear
-
Expands Perspective
-
Yields Courage - creates a sense of safety when trying new and uncomfortable behaviors that may be second nature to you and me but foreign and scary for a child lacking in this area. And, offers a safe environment to make mistakes.
-
Breaks negative patterns
-
Teaches differentiation between behavior driven events and happenstance destiny (a.k.a. helps to explore and define taking responsibility.)
-
Manages anger-driven events with a more positive outcome and reduces the escalation.
-
Fosters learning, growing and a sense of how to ‘enjoy' a situation.
-
Elicits compassion and sensitivity
-
Teaches conflict-resolution
-
Allows a comfort-zone for risk-taking
Each portion of the social skills speech and language groups will incorporate a minimum of 30 minutes of Playhouse Theater Games. We are exploring the demand for a full Theater Games 90 minute session so please let us know if this is of interest. Private group consultation for “At-Home” social events are also available.
