Social & Connection Groups
Where shared interests become real friendships and meaningful skills grow.
Fun, clinician-guided groups where children and teens connect through activities they genuinely enjoy while building confidence, communication, cooperation and friendship skills.
Children • Youth • Teens | Afterschool & Weekends | Designed by Child-Development Professionals
More Than an Extracurricular
Children often connect most comfortably when they have something meaningful to do together.
Our Social & Connection Groups use shared interests, engaging activities and thoughtful facilitator guidance to help friendships grow while strengthening the skills children need to navigate relationships successfully.
A child may feel like they are building a fort, completing a team mission or playing a favourite game. At the same time, facilitators are intentionally creating opportunities to practise communication, cooperation, flexible thinking, collaborative problem-solving, emotional regulation and friendship skills.
Facilitators provide guidance in the moments children need it, while keeping the experience fun, authentic and low-pressure.
To children, it feels like building, playing and belonging. Behind the scenes, each activity and environment is thoughtfully designed to support meaningful social and emotional growth.
Explore Groups Below
Skills That Grow Through Shared Experiences
Depending on the group, facilitators may help children and teens practise:
Joining and participating in a group
Social communication
Cooperation and teamwork
Sharing ideas and listening to others
Flexible thinking
Collaborative problem-solving
Turn-taking, compromise and good sportsmanship
Managing frustration and emotions with peers
Navigating disagreements and repairing difficult moments
Perspective-taking
Self-advocacy
Confidence within a group
Developing and maintaining friendships
Skills are supported through real experiences with peers, allowing participants to practise them in meaningful moments rather than only talking about them.
Thoughtfully Designed.
Professionally Guided.
Genuinely Fun.
Unlike a traditional extracurricular, our groups are intentionally designed around both the activity and the developmental opportunities it creates.
Facilitators observe group interactions, adapt activities to the participants and provide in-the-moment guidance when children need support communicating, working together, managing frustration or navigating peer dynamics.
Our groups are strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming and facilitated and/or supervised by Registered Social Workers and experienced child and youth professionals. This allows children to receive meaningful support without the group feeling overly formal, forced or focused on changing who they are.
Explore Groups Below
Find a Group Built Around Your Child’s Interests
Each group uses a different shared interest or experience to support connection, confidence and social-emotional growth.
Builders Lab
CLINICIAN-GUIDED SOCIAL & CONNECTION GROUP
Ages 6–10
Children connect through hands-on building, designing and imaginative construction. From LEGO creations and marble runs to forts and engineering challenges, each activity is thoughtfully designed to support teamwork, communication, flexible thinking, compromise and collaborative problem-solving.
Mondays | 5:00–6:15 PM | September–June
Weekly 75-minute sessions
Team Up!
CLINICIAN-GUIDED SOCIAL & CONNECTION GROUP
Ages 6–10
An active and engaging group where children connect through cooperative games, movement challenges and team missions. Facilitators guide participants in building confidence, communication, teamwork, emotional regulation, sportsmanship and problem-solving while working toward shared goals.
Fridays | 5:00–6:15 PM | September–June
Weekly 75-minute sessions
Strategy & Games Club: Kids
CLINICIAN-GUIDED SOCIAL & CONNECTION GROUP
Ages 8–11
Children build friendships through board games, puzzles, strategy challenges and imaginative adventures. Facilitators intentionally use gameplay to help participants practise communication, flexible thinking, perspective-taking, emotional regulation, collaborative problem-solving and navigating friendly competition.
Wednesdays | 5:00–6:30 PM | September–June
Weekly 90-minute sessions
Strategy & Games Club: Youth
CLINICIAN-GUIDED SOCIAL & CONNECTION GROUP
Ages 12–15
Youth connect through more complex strategy games, mysteries, puzzles and tabletop adventures. Through cooperative and competitive gameplay, participants strengthen communication, flexible thinking, emotional regulation, sportsmanship and collaborative problem-solving while building friendships with peers who share their interests.
Wednesdays | 6:45–8:15 PM | September–June
Weekly 90-minute sessions
The Hub
GUIDED SOCIAL COMMUNITY FOR NEURODIVERGENT TEENS
Ages 14–17
A welcoming social community where autistic and neurodivergent teens can connect, belong and build genuine friendships.
Teens help shape the activities and experiences around their shared interests, while facilitators provide the structure and guidance needed to support inclusion, communication, collaborative decision-making, self-advocacy and growing independence.
Fridays | 6:15–8:15 PM | September–June
Weekly two-hour gatherings
Mature 13-year-olds may be considered based on readiness and group fit.
Looking for more Individualized Goals?
All Willow Tree groups are thoughtfully designed and professionally guided. Some children may benefit from a more structured therapeutic program that includes clinical intake, individualized goal-setting, progress monitoring and progress reporting.
Explore our Goal-Focused Therapeutic & Skill-Building Programs.
Not Sure Which Group Is the Right Fit?
You do not have to figure it out alone.
Our team considers your child’s age, interests, strengths, goals, communication style, developmental readiness and support needs when recommending a group. We can help you explore whether an interest-based social group or a more structured therapeutic program would be the best starting point.