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Social Circles (Spring 2026)

Social Circles is a social skills program that helps children and youth understand personal space, relationships, and boundaries in a clear and visual way. The program follows the Circles® curriculum, which uses color-coded circles to show who is closest to a person and what types of touch, talk, and trust are appropriate with each group of people.

Through structured lessons and guided activities, participants will learn to recognize different types of relationships, understand personal boundaries, and practice socially appropriate interactions. By making these abstract social concepts visual and concrete, the program helps children build healthy relationships and develop important personal safety skills.

Circles® Curriculum created by Marklyn P. Champagne and Leslie Walker Hirsch.

Program Details:

  • Duration: April 8 – June 24, 2026
  • Schedule: Wednesdays, 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM (1x/week)
  • Age Group: 9–12 years
  • Location: 1870 Birchmount Rd; Scarborough, ON

Goals of the Program:

  • Categorize people into appropriate social circles (e.g., family in the blue circle, strangers in the red circle)
  • Differentiate between public and private places
  • Select socially appropriate conversations and activities for different relationship levels
  • Determine appropriate boundaries for interactions based on an individual’s social circle

Eligibility:

Your child is ready for this program if they:

  • able to remain in a room with peers without engaging in behaviours that may pose a risk to themselves or others, such as high rates of aggression, self-injury, or elopement
  • Can sit and attend to a group lesson for at least 10–15 minutes
  • Can follow group instructions
  • Can identify colours and understand the difference between yes and no
  • Have a functional communication system in place

What to Expect:

  • A structured environment that supports learning about relationships and boundaries
  • Interactive lessons using the Circles® visual framework
  • Opportunities to practice identifying social relationships and appropriate interactions
  • Guidance from experienced professionals to help children develop social awareness and safety skills

Cost

Total Cost: $2,400/12 sessions

Interested in this program?

Registration with SAAAC Autism Centre requires speaking with our Intake Team and providing them with your child's and family information.

Can't find what you are looking for?
Please contact our Centre and we will be happy to answer your questions.

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