Skill Builder Program

An inclusive program series that supports the mental, social, emotional, and physical development of children and youth:

  • help build confidence and foster a sense of belonging
  • offer extra time to learn and develop skills in a small group setting
  • introduce support strategies based on individual needs and abilities

We offer inclusive programming. If your child would benefit from one-on-one support and/or is eligible for aide support (i.e. FSCD), we ask caregivers to make arrangements and notify our Programs Director (jhoward@tricocentre.ca) in advance.

 


I am so glad that I signed Ryker up for the Executive Functioning Skillbuilder Program at the Trico Centre. I admit that I was skeptical at first.  My son was born prematurely and has a number of delays as a result.  At age 6, we are also dealing with a new diagnosis of severe ADHD.

When I stumbled upon the Skillbuilder programs, I was intrigued.  However, I worried that Ryker wouldn’t get much out of them.  First off, I wondered how they could make executive functioning skillbuilding fun and engaging.  Moreover, with Ryker’s delays and him being at the young end of the 6-9 year old class, I worried that he would be unable to participate fully.  Ryker has never been able to participate in formal programs or class settings…

Fall Skill Builder Programs

4-5 Year Olds

Skill Builder: Fine Motor Skill Development (4-5 yrs)

This targeted program helps build confidence and independence! Giving children extra time to practice using small muscles in their hands, wrists, and fingers. Fine motor practice helps with buttoning, zippering, drawing, coloring, tying shoelaces, brushing, and flossing teeth. Children will play with fine motor manipulatives and practice hand strengthening exercises.

6-7 Year Olds

Skill Builder: Direction Detectives (6-7 yrs)

In a small group setting, this program teaches active listening skills and effective strategies to follow directions. Through engaging discussion and activities, we will explore helpful strategies such as checklists, visuals, timers, social stories, task breakdowns, and ways to eliminate distractions.

Skill Builder: Fine Motor Skill Development (6-7 yrs)

This targeted program helps build confidence and independence! Giving children extra time to practice using small muscles in their hands, wrists, and fingers. Fine motor practice helps with buttoning, zippering, drawing, coloring, tying shoelaces, brushing, and flossing teeth. Children will play with fine motor manipulatives and practice hand strengthening exercises.

Skill Builder: Friendship Foundations (6-7 yrs)

Learn how to build and maintain friendships through engaging activities, games, and discussions. We’ll explore essential skills such as active listening, effective communication, understanding social cues, empathy, problem solving strategies, emotional regulation, co-operation, sharing and taking turns.

Skill Builder: Wellness Warriors (6-7 yrs)

A safe welcoming space for children to learn about feelings, body clues, and ways to calm when having big feelings. Tools and strategies will be introduced as each child builds their own personalized ‘calm-down box’.

8-10 Year Olds

Skill Builder: Anxiety Explorers (8-10 yrs)

This engaging and interactive program fosters resilience, promotes self-care, and empowers young people to navigate anxiety with confidence. In a small group setting, learn about anxiety symptoms, understand triggers, and explore effective coping strategies.

Skill Builder: Confidence Quest (8-10 yrs)

“Confidence Quest” is a fun and interactive program that helps kids boost their self-esteem and build confidence. Through engaging activities and games, children will learn valuable skills such as positive self-talk, embracing their unique qualities, and overcoming challenges with courage. Join us on this exciting journey of self-discovery and empowerment, where every child becomes a confident hero in their own story.

Skill Builder: Direction Detectives (8-10 yrs)

In a small group setting, this program teaches active listening skills and effective strategies to follow directions. Through engaging discussion and activities, we will explore helpful strategies such as checklists, visuals, timers, social stories, task breakdowns, and ways to eliminate distractions.

Skill Builder: Fine Motor Skill Development (8-10 yrs)

This targeted program helps build confidence and independence! Giving children extra time to practice using small muscles in their hands, wrists, and fingers. Fine motor practice helps with buttoning, zippering, drawing, coloring, tying shoelaces, brushing, and flossing teeth. Children will play with fine motor manipulatives and practice hand strengthening exercises.

Skill Builder: Friendship Foundations (8-10 yrs)

Learn how to build and maintain friendships through engaging activities, games, and discussions. We’ll explore essential skills such as active listening, effective communication, understanding social cues, empathy, problem solving strategies, emotional regulation, co-operation, sharing and taking turns.

Skill Builder: Wellness Warriors (8-10 yrs)

A safe welcoming space for children to learn about feelings, body clues, and ways to calm when having big feelings. Tools and strategies will be introduced as each child builds their own personalized ‘calm-down kit’.

Skill Builder: Surf Smart / Internet Safety (8-10 yrs)

This program is designed to teach kids about internet safety, healthy screen time habits, and how to ask for help. We will cover important topics such as online privacy, cyberbullying, and digital citizenship. We’ll also discuss the benefits of limited screen time and how to balance it with other activities.

11-13 Year Olds

Skill Builder: Anxiety Explorers (11-13yrs)

This engaging and interactive program fosters resilience, promotes self-care, and empowers young people to navigate anxiety with confidence. In a small group setting, learn about anxiety symptoms, understand triggers, and explore effective coping strategies.

 

Skill Builder: Confidence Quest (11-13 yrs)

“Confidence Quest” is a fun and interactive program that helps kids boost their self-esteem and build confidence. Through engaging activities and games, children will learn valuable skills such as positive self-talk, embracing their unique qualities, and overcoming challenges with courage. Join us on this exciting journey of self-discovery and empowerment, where every child becomes a confident hero in their own story.

Skill Builder: Direction Detectives (11-13 yrs)

In a small group setting, this program teaches active listening skills and effective strategies to follow directions. Through engaging discussion and activities, we will explore helpful strategies such as checklists, visuals, timers, social stories, task breakdowns, and ways to eliminate distractions.

Skill Builder: Friendship Foundations (11-13 yrs)

Learn how to build and maintain friendships through engaging activities, games, and discussions. We’ll explore essential skills such as active listening, effective communication, understanding social cues, empathy, problem solving strategies, emotional regulation, co-operation, sharing and taking turns.

Skill Builder: Surf Smart / Internet Safety (11-13 yrs)

This program is designed to teach kids about internet safety, healthy screen time habits, and how to ask for help. We will cover important topics such as online privacy, cyberbullying, and digital citizenship. We’ll also discuss the benefits of limited screen time and how to balance it with other activities.

Non-Competitive Sports

Skill Builder: Non-Competitive Sports (Basketball 6-8 yrs)

Our recreational BASKETBALL program supports children physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Providing children with the opportunity to be part of a group, learn fundamental movement skills, exercise, build confidence, and have fun!

Skill Builder: Non-Competitive Sports (Soccer 6-8 yrs)

Our recreational SOCCER program supports children physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Providing children with the opportunity to be part of a group, learn fundamental movement skills, exercise, build confidence, and have fun!

Skill Builder: Tri-Sport (6-8 yrs)

Build foundational sport specific skills in soccer, basketball, and badminton while developing self-confidence and a love of sport!

Skill Builder: Non-Competitive Sports (Badminton 9-11 yrs)

Our recreational BADMINTON program supports children physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Providing children with the opportunity to be part of a group, learn fundamental movement skills, exercise, build confidence, and have fun!

Skill Builder: Non-Competitive Sports (Basketball 9-11 yrs)

Our recreational BASKETBALL program supports children physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Providing children with the opportunity to be part of a group, learn fundamental movement skills, exercise, build confidence, and have fun!

Skill Builder: Non-Competitive Sports (Soccer 9-12 yrs)

Our recreational SOCCER program supports children physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Providing children with the opportunity to be part of a group, learn fundamental movement skills, exercise, build confidence, and have fun!

Skill Builder: Tri-Sport (9-11 yrs)

Build foundational sport specific skills in soccer, basketball, and badminton while developing self-confidence and a love of sport!

Skill Builder: Non-Competitive Sports (Badminton 12-14 yrs)

Our recreational BADMINTON program supports children physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Providing children with the opportunity to be part of a group, learn fundamental movement skills, exercise, build confidence, and have fun!

Skill Builder: Non-Competitive Sports (Basketball 12-14 yrs)

Our recreational BASKETBALL program supports children physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Providing children with the opportunity to be part of a group, learn fundamental movement skills, exercise, build confidence, and have fun!

continued…

His first class blew me away!  My husband and I sat outside the class waiting for Ryker to escape (which is his usual MO).  It didn’t happen.  Not only that, we peeked in and he was SITTING CALMLY, and actually PARTICIPATING in the activities!  This may sound unimpressive to most parents, but for the parents of a kiddo with severe executive processing issues, this was astounding.  I have literally never seen him so engaged in any formalized activity.

The teacher is phenomenal.  She truly understands neurodivergence and how to adapt programming to suit the neurodiverse brain.   Each kid gets exactly what he or she needs.

The activities they do have a clear connection to lifelong skills that can help kids navigate life with executive functioning differences.  Executive functioning is a learned skill, just like any other.  Some kiddos seem to be naturally programmed to learn those skills easily while others need to work harder.  This program gives kids the tools to succeed.

I took the opportunity to sit in on a class one time when Ryker was having a particularly dysregulated day and even I felt like I had learned new skills.  I think the Skillbuilder programs are likely to pique the interest of parents with neurodiverse children, but really every parent of neurotypical children should sign their kids up too.  We love to complain that the education system fails to teach many of the “soft skills” needed to be a high-achiever, but Trico is finally doing it!

I am excited to sign Ryker up for more Skillbuilder programs in the future.

– Christine