Social Skills and Communication at School – Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology Tips

Strong social and communication skills support friendships, classroom participation, and emotional wellbeing. Occupational therapists and speech pathologists help students develop the skills needed to connect with others and communicate effectively.

Preschool

Early social skills are developed through play and shared experiences.

• Practise turn-taking and sharing during games

• Support emotional awareness by naming feelings

• Model simple social phrases such as “Can I play?”

• Use role-play to practise everyday interactions

Primary School

Social expectations increase as children grow.

• Support conversation skills such as staying on topic

• Teach problem-solving and conflict resolution

• Build confidence speaking in front of groups

• Support emotional regulation during peer interactions

High School

Teenagers face complex social relationships and expectations.

• Support pragmatic language and social boundaries

• Develop perspective-taking and empathy

• Build confidence with presentations and group discussions

• Address anxiety related to social communication

Improving social communication can positively impact confidence, friendships, and learning.