Table 2.

Description of Child and Parent Treatment Sessions

Session	Topic child group	Goals—child group	Topic parent group	Goals—parent group
1	Rules of the group; elements of good communication	Children learn and practice elements of good communication by introducing themselves to one another	Goals and methods of treatment; limitations of intervention; what not to expect	Parents learn about importance of their role in the intervention; group leader reviews context and stability of sociometric categories
2	Having a conversation	Children learn how to exchange information; identify good and bad places to make friends	Having a conversation	Parents learn how to help their child develop two-way conversation skills; how to better communicate with their child
3	Joining a group of children already at play: “slipping in”	Children learn when, where, and how to “slip in” or join a group of children already at play	Supporting child friendships	Parents learn about appropriate settings for play dates; sources of potential playmates; importance of adequate time availability for play dates.
4	Joining a group of children already at play: “slipping in”	Children learn more techniques for group entry, reasons for rejection from group entry, and what to do in response to rejection	Joining a group of children already at play, “slipping in”	Parents learn when, where, and how their children should “slip in” to a group of children already at play; importance of their child taking “no” for an answer
5	How to be a good sport	Children learn and practice basic rules of being a good sport	Joining a group of children already at play, “slipping in”	Parents learn how to help their child practice “slipping in” outside of the session
6	How to be a good sport	Children learn to praise other children, techniques of persuasion and negotiation	Appropriate games for play dates	Parents learn appropriate games and identify games to exclude for indoor and outdoor play
7	Rules of being a good host	Children learn and practice rules of being the “host” during interactive indoor games	Play dates	Parents learn about sources for potential playmates for their child. Parents learn about their responsibilities for the play date
8	How to handle teasing	Children learn and practice strategies for reacting neutrally or humorously to teasing, so as to reduce the likelihood of further teasing	How to handle teasing	Parents learn about effective strategies their child can use to handle teasing and are instructed on appropriate role-play strategies for practice
9	Unjustified accusations	Children learn how to handle situations when unjustly accused of bad behavior by an adult	How to handle adult complaints about child’s behavior	Parents learn how to respond appropriately and effectively to other adults who complain about their child’s behavior so as to minimize their child getting a negative reputation
10	How to be a good winner	Children learn and practice rules of being a good winner	How to be a good winner	Parents learn rules of being a good winner and how to encourage their child’s practice of those rules
11	Bullies and conflict situations	Children learn how to avoid conflict and have the opportunity to practice strategies for conflict resolution	Bullies and conflict situations	Parents learn how to support their child’s use of strategies for defusing confrontations with another child
12	Graduation	Posttreatment evaluation, graduation ceremony, and party for the children and their parents	Graduation	Parents complete posttreatment evaluation and participate in the child’s graduation ceremony and party