Training social skills in young people with
STOP THINK DO

Suitability of the children's program

• Stop Think Do is suitable for children of all ages and personalities, individually or in groups


• The length of the program and the rate of progress may be varied to suit the location, age, intelligence or special needs of the children involved


• The sequential order of training lessons through STOP and THINK and DO should be followed if entire program is used for social skills training


• Alternative application for mainstream students in middle/secondary school using grid of specific topics that may be required teaching in various subject areas

Social skills lesson format

• Structured teaching of core concepts and skills


• Activities related to core topics (games, role plays, written exercises)


• Informal play/chat time for skills practice


• Review and homework exercises

Social skills lesson content

• Early lessons focus on STOP; the main skills are self control, and using eyes and ears to look and listen to find out what the problem is and how people are feeling before saying or doing anything in conflict situations.


• Next lessons focus on THINK; the main skills are using the brain to think up options for solving problems, and evaluating likely consequences of these options.
  Shorthand descriptions of options include
  
  • Cool, Weak and Aggro ways depending on how you look, sound and feel
  • Friendly ways where you step into the other person's shoes and take their perspective
  • Moral ways for very tricky problems
  • Cooperative ways for functioning in groups = Cool + Friendly
  
  
• Final lessons focus on DO; main skills are decision/choice making and behavioural skills, getting the body into shape to send the right signals, taught through modeling, shaping and role-play.