Tweens

The Tweens Group runs from September to June and meets once a week on Thursdays from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This group is designed for children ages 8 to 12 and provides a safe, structured, and supportive environment where young participants can build confidence and strengthen social skills.

The program focuses on self-esteem, emotional awareness, and healthy peer relationships. Children at this stage of development are forming important ideas about who they are and how they relate to others. Tweens offers a welcoming space where they can explore those ideas in positive and encouraging ways.

Through guided discussions, interactive games, teamwork activities, and creative exercises, participants practice:

• Communication skills

• Confidence-building

• Empathy and perspective-taking

• Problem-solving strategies

• Healthy conflict resolution

• Respectful peer interaction

The group is facilitated in a trauma-informed manner, recognizing that some children may have experienced stress, instability, or exposure to violence. Activities are designed to promote emotional safety, encourage participation without pressure, and build on each child’s existing strengths.

The goal of the Tweens Group is to help children feel secure in who they are, develop healthy friendships, and navigate everyday social situations with greater ease and resilience. By strengthening self-awareness and interpersonal skills early on, the program supports long-term emotional well-being and positive development.