Be Friends

Friendship skills workshop for children.

Download PDF brochure Seesaw is excited to offer Be Friends: a fun and interactive friendship skills and social learning workshop for children. Created by a licensed psychologist, Be Friends meets in seesaw studio.

Friendship skills are important and can help with:

  • coping and resilience
  • school success
  • positive self esteem
  • fun and ease when playing with peers
  • a happier, healthier life

Classes are structured and playful with just 4 to 6 participants per class. Each class is 45—50 minutes long, followed by free playtime and an in-depth parent debriefing. Classes are offered for children 3 to 12 years old.

Register

Register by clicking the button, or if you have questions contact us at or (415) 553-8070.
We’ll be happy to answer all your questions.

Bunches

Be Friends is offered in 3 “bunches” each emphasizing a specific set of friendship skills:

Ponder bunch

“thinking socially”

Ponder focuses on boosting social awareness and perspective taking.

  • eye contact
  • expectation & situation
  • feelings
  • flexibility
  • greeting & meeting
  • hidden social rules
  • interrupting
  • personal space
  • perspective taking
  • sharing
  • sportsmanship
  • teasing & bullies
  • “think well feel well”
  • turn-taking
  • voice volume

Peer bunch

“building friendships”

Peer helps children practice tools for building friendships.

  • assertiveness
  • active listening
  • apologies & forgiveness
  • compliments
  • compromise
  • conflict resolution
  • conversation
  • communication
  • empathy
  • feelings
  • flexibility
  • greeting & meeting
  • gracious guest & host
  • parties & play dates
  • perspective taking
  • reciprocity
  • sharing
  • sportsmanship
  • teasing & bullies

Politely bunch

“practical manners & etiquette”

Politely is a fun way to finesse everyday social graces.

  • accepting differences
  • agree to disagree
  • disabilities awareness
  • gracious guest & host
  • grooming & hygiene
  • introductions
  • netiquette & phone
  • parties & play dates
  • planes, trains & automobiles
  • table manners
  • at the movies
  • weddings & funerals

Q & A with Dr. Suj

What are social skills?

Social skills are essential for relationships and resilience. They are the rules and tools we use to understand, relate communicate, and interact with one another. Social skills can be taught and improved upon.

What kinds of kids is Be Friends for?

My philosophy is that all children benefit from the opportunity to explore friendship skills and manners. Be Friends is particularly helpful for kids who are shy, quirky, or could use a social boost. Friend groups are pre-arranged based on age and social strengths.

What about children with Asperger’s?

Be Friends addresses many of the social skills issues that children with Aspergers face. I’ve worked closely with children on the Autism spectrum across school and clinic settings for the past seven years.

Do you have a fixed curriculum?

I like to refresh my curriculum often and use evidence-based programs. Role play, rehearsal, and multi-modal instruction are emphasized and each workshop is tailored to the unique needs of its participants.

Is Be Friends the same as counseling?

We are not providing counseling or psychotherapy.
We offer friendship skills coaching in a fun flexible natural learning environment among other high quality extra-curriculars. If you are seeking child or family counseling, we would be happy to suggest resources in our community.

Sign up for our e-mail list on our home page and we’ll keep you updated.

Dr. Sabrina Gabel picture

Sabrina Gabel, Ph.D., (Dr. Suj) is a Licensed Psychologist and developer of Be Friends. She earned her doctorate in counseling, clinical, and school psychology at the University of California, in Santa Barbara. Her professional experience includes consultation, assessment, parent education and social skills coaching to children and adolescents.

If you have questions about Be Friends, please contact Dr. Gabel at 415.553.8070 or email her at