Small Group Instruction
Small Group Instruction
Between one-on-one therapy and a full classroom sits an important step: learning alongside a few peers. Our small group instruction helps children with autism ages 2–7 attend, respond, and learn in a group — with the support they still need.
What is small group instruction?
A therapist teaches a small group of children with a favorable staff-to-child ratio. The goal is to help your child apply skills they've mastered one-on-one to a group setting — and learn by watching and imitating peers.
How it's different
It bridges 1:1 therapy and a real classroom. Where Group Play focuses on social play skills, small group instruction focuses on structured learning in a group — following a leader, responding in turn, and staying engaged.
Skills we work on
- Responding and participating in a group
- Waiting for a turn and group ("choral") responding
- Attending to a group leader
- Imitating and learning from peers
- Following group directions
- Building the stamina to learn in a classroom setting
Why it matters (generalization)
A skill isn't truly learned until a child can use it with new people, materials, and settings. Small groups are where skills generalize — a key reason we teach them, and something our center's peer access makes possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my child still get individual attention?
Yes — instruction stays individualized within a small group, with favorable ratios.
How is this different from 1:1?
1:1 builds skills; small group helps your child use them alongside peers and prepare for a classroom.
How do you know my child is ready?
Your BCBA looks at the skills your child has mastered in 1:1 and readiness for a group.
Is it fewer hours or lower cost?
Programs are individualized; we'll explain what's recommended and how coverage works.
