OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

USE THE POWER OF A SOCIAL GROUP TO

TEACH YOUR CHILD

HOW TO form fulfilling friendships

CREATED BY REBECCA ROBBINS, MS, CCC-SLP

USE THE POWER OF A SOCIAL GROUP TO

TEACH YOUR CHILD

HOW TO TALK TO FRIENDS

CREATED BY

REBECCA ROBBINS MS, CCC-SLP

FULFILLING RELATIONSHIPS ARE POSSIBLE FOR YOUR CHILD

Parents invest in Buddy Group because they want their child to have a sense of belonging with their peers by increasing their confidence in their ability to engage with others in meaningful ways.

My mission and goal is to help as many children as possible to navigate through their social lives a little easier, which is why I started Buddy Group in 2018.

because

Relationships

Are What

Make Life

Worth Living

Does your child have difficulty carrying on conversations with his/her peers?

Do they seem to only want to talk about their own interests?

Do they miss subtle, nonverbal cues that happen in conversations?

Do you want your child to be better equipped to make and maintain friendships?

Buddy Group can help your child build the skills and confidence to socialize with their peers.

YOU worry and wonder IF YOUR

CHILD WILL GROW UP FEELING LONELY

the more you step in to help your child be successful in social situations...

The more your child seems to become dependent on you.

It's hard to find a group where your child feels they belong

You've tried other groups and they don't seem to resonate with your child's interests and way of interacting.

You're afraid your child will not have fulfilling relationships.

You haven't found a good solution to enhance their social life and you are looking for a group that works for you and your child.

Buddy Group prioritizes welcoming your child for exactly who they are and fosters bonding with others in the group.

VIDEO TESTIMONIALS IF YOU HAVE THEM.

Remind Them Of The Scarcity. That Waiting Will Have Consequences.

Parents Talking About Buddy Group

I was able to participate with my daughter

Before starting Buddy Group, I struggled with helping my child stay engaged with her peers. I was hesitant to invest in the program because I wasn’t sure if my daughter would be able to participate with the class, but there are limited programs available to my child where I’m able to participate with her as well. Since joining Buddy Group, my daughter has become more responsive and attentive to her classmates as well as her teacher. She has also been able to get our attention more appropriately when she wants to communicate with us and has been more patient while waiting. My daughter is very happy while in Buddy Group classes and enjoys being around her classmates.

~L Veros

From only being able to say "hi" to enjoying talking with friends

Before joining Buddy Group, my son had trouble maintaining communications beyond saying “hi.” I saw an advertisement on Facebook for the group and decided to give it a try, even though I wasn’t sure if my child would benefit from it. Since joining Buddy Group, my son has started using longer sentences. He also waits for his turn while conversing. The most helpful part of Buddy Group has been the consistent opportunity for our son to connect with a peer in a guided, supportive setting. We are very happy with the progress our son has made. He has said he likes talking with his friends and singing the songs that each class opens and closes with. We want to thank Rebecca for all her hard work!

~AJ

Rebecca made signing up an easy decision

My son has always been outgoing but struggled with tone, reading body language, using an “indoor voice,” and having confidence. He was feeling lonely during the height of remote school days and Buddy Group seemed like a great, safe place to not only connect with other kids. Rebecca’s experience, positivity, and enthusiasm made signing up an easy decision. Social connection hasn't always come easily for my son, but since joining Buddy Group, his confidence has improved and most importantly he is happy. He looks forward to the classes Tuesday nights because of the connection he feels with the group, and in his words “Buddy Group is a great opportunity to make friends, play games and learn new things. Miss Rebecca is very nice and fun.”

~ H Edgar

Socialization is crucial to a child's success in home, school, community and beyond.

I created buddy group because I recognized a huge lack of opportunities in the community for children and adults of all abilities to receive support in this area.

I created Buddy Group to help students build relationship skills in a supportive environment while keeping parents informed and engaged in the process.

i am passionate about helping my students improve their lives

while making friends.

The real value of buddy group

When I first started Buddy Group, my focus was on curriculum and conversation skills—teaching students how to take turns, ask follow-up questions, and share their own ideas.

At the time, each class was two hours long, and I began incorporating interactive games that required teamwork and problem-solving. Over time, I realized how powerful these activities were—not just as a break from instruction, but as opportunities to practice what they’d learned in real-time.

Amidst the laughter and smiles, students were actively applying core skills from earlier in the session like encouraging peers, taking perspective, and navigating group dynamics.

It was through these games that my students taught me the real value of Buddy Group.

Now, interacting through teamwork, challenges and games is a core part of my Buddy Group program. Sure, the curriculum is still important because the lessons really teach my students the “how” to interact with their friends. But, the games and cooperative activities are where they learn to put those skills into practice in a functional way that will stay with them for life.

All classes are developed by Rebecca Robbins, MS, CCC-SLP.

Drawing on 20 years of experience in communication development and social learning

(Buddy Group is a community-based educational program. It is not a substitute for speech-language therapy or clinical services.)

What’s the point of learning conversation skills if you never get to use them? From time to time, we step outside the classroom to practice the social strategies we’ve been learning—whether it’s ordering together at a café or collaborating on a group challenge out in the community. These outings are guided, purposeful, and designed to help those skills stick.

INtroducing: Buddy Group

YOUR CHILD WILL BUILD CONFIDENCE WHILE COMMUNICATING

YOUR CHILD WILL BE MOTIVATED TO JOIN IN AND CONTRIBUTE

YOUR CHILD WILL PRACTICE CONNECTING & INTERACTING WITH PEERS

...and HAVE FUN WHILE APPLYING WHAT THEY'VE LEARNED!

INtroducing: Buddy Group

YOUR CHILD WILL TALK MORE

YOUR CHILD WILL BE EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE

YOUR CHILD WILL BOND WITH PEERS

...and HAVE FUN!

Get the Above Benefits And Results Without.....

Wasted Time....

Wasted Money....

Wasted Energy....

What other buddy group families are saying

Their children are making strides in a safe and fun learning environment that enriches their lives.

He attends longer at dinner

~ Doris, Cornwall, NY

"Before we started Buddy Group with Rebecca our son was not able to hold a conversation. There was no back and forth, only him telling us what toys he wanted to buy or what movies he wanted to see.

Our son has been participating in Buddy Group for a year and we have seen such great changes in him as a result. He will attend longer at dinner. When we point out he is being a "conversation thief" (a term we learned in Buddy Group) he will attempt to join in or wait his turn. I find the most helpful part of Rebecca’s program to be that it is teaching him the abstract skill of carrying on a conversation. When I asked my son what his favorite part of Buddy Group was, he said…”Rebecca!”

"When our son was 11, he enrolled in the Buddy Group class with Rebecca to help his socialization and increase his communication abilities specific to initiating and maintaining conversations. This was a weekly class he actually looked forward to attending. He is fond of her teaching style using games to learn, play and have conversations with his “buddies”.

Currently, he participates as a biweekly “part-time” guest/role model in “buddy group” which has helped his confidence and gives him a great opportunity to practice his conversation skills. Rebecca Robbins is fun, friendly, smart, reliable, enthusiastic, empowering, educated, and offers a great mix of personal and professional styles in her teachings. We are grateful to have her as a role model continuing to empower and educate our family!"

HE LOVES USING GAMES TO LEARN, PLAY AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS BUDDIES

~ Stacey, Goshen, NY

he initiates conversations at school

~ Britney, New Windsor, NY

"Our son joined Rebecca's Buddy Group to improve his communication with others. We were very confident in her knowledge base and professionalism. She is extremely patient and kind with our son. Everyone has noticed an improvement. Staff at his school have stopped to tell me how he will initiate a greeting as he passes them in the hall."

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD IN BUILDING

REAL RELATIONSHIPS

A social learning group where your child can build confidence sharing their thoughts, joining conversations, and connecting with others—in ways that feel fun and natural.

BUDDY GROUP GIVES YOU

Virtual or In-person weekly classes in NY & PA

Parent guidance to help reinforce class themes at home

Access to weekly summaries and at-home support materials

A welcoming space where students can connect, grow, and belong

core curriculum

All Buddy Group students participate in a Core Curriculum designed to build shared vocabulary and foundational social-communication skills that are reinforced throughout the program.

In Level 1, students are introduced to each Core Curriculum unit as a structured lesson before beginning additional Level 1 content.

In Level 2, students review the Core Curriculum at the start of the semester, using this time to reconnect with group members, strengthen conversational skills, and practice applying previously learned strategies in real-time social exchanges.

Discovering Shared Interests

Students learn how to identify and talk about shared interests with peers—building connection by asking questions and recognizing common ground.

Starting Conversations

This unit teaches students how to begin conversations using specific types of topic-starter questions. They gain tools and sentence structures to confidently initiate social interactions.

Communication Cycle

Students explore what makes a conversation flow or break down, and practice how to add comments that connect meaningfully to what others say—strengthening back-and-forth communication.

Making comments

In this unit, students learn how to respond to others using a variety of comment types. They practice matching their comments to the tone of the conversation, such as responding to happy or sad news appropriately, and learn how to express shared interests, personal opinions, and emotional reactions in a clear, respectful way.

Keep the Conversation Going

Building on earlier lessons, this unit teaches students how to add follow-up questions and comments to continue a conversation. Skills are practiced through structured activities, such as role plays, games and guided conversations about their lives.

opportunities to practice

No matter what level of Buddy Group your child is in, structured opportunities to practice conversation skills are built into every class. Students apply what they’ve learned during lessons, interactive games, warm-ups, and guided peer interactions—including sessions with guest participants.

Level 1 curriculum

Bounce It Back!

Students learn how to respond and keep conversations going by reflecting a question or comment back to their conversation partner. This supports turn-taking and reciprocal interaction.

being a listener

Students explore the dual roles of talker and listener in conversation, and practice active listening skills through interactive activities that reinforce attention, turn-taking, and feedback.

conversation detective

Students learn how to “read between the lines” by paying attention to facial expressions, tone of voice, and other nonverbal clues—helping them better interpret and respond to social cues.

beyond my words

Students practice using and interpreting nonverbal communication—including facial expressions, gestures, and body language—to enhance understanding and clarity in social exchanges.

public or private

In this lesson, students learn to identify different types of personal information and how to decide what is appropriate to share in various settings. The class also explores digital safety skills—such as practicing how to evaluate messages, recognize potential scams, and make safer choices when engaging on social media platforms.

texting basics

This lesson introduces students to texting as a form of digital conversation. They learn how to initiate and respond to text messages appropriately, including when and how to use digital tools like emojis and GIFs to support tone and clarity in written communication.

opportunities to practice

No matter what level of Buddy Group your child is in, structured opportunities to practice conversation skills are built into every class. Students apply what they’ve learned during lessons, interactive games, warm-ups, and guided peer interactions—including sessions with guest participants.

Level 2 curriculum

level 1 review

Level 2 begins with a structured review of foundational concepts from Level 1. Students revisit key vocabulary and skills while practicing real-time conversation and building group rapport.

should i say this?

This unit supports perspective-taking and social decision-making. Students explore how different responses (factual vs. empathic) can impact others, and practice navigating sensitive conversations.

coping with frustration

Students are introduced to basic emotional regulation strategies and learn how to recognize signs of frustration—in themselves and others. They’re given specific tools to use during peer interactions when emotions run high.

values and boundaries

In this lesson, students begin identifying what they value in friendships, communication, and daily life. They explore different types of personal boundaries—physical, emotional, digital, and conversational—and learn how to recognize and communicate those boundaries clearly with others. Practice activities focus on building self-advocacy skills through roleplay and peer discussion.

Level of Friends

This lesson helps students understand that not all relationships serve the same role in our lives. They learn to identify different levels of friendship—acquaintances, casual friends, close friends—and how expectations and trust may vary at each level. The group also revisits concepts from the “Public vs. Private” unit to apply privacy and sharing decisions based on the closeness of the relationship.

Bullying

In this unit, students explore different types of bullying (physical, verbal, relational, and digital) and the roles people may play in a bullying dynamic. They learn how to identify safe adults and peers who can offer support, how to ask for help, and how to use specific communication strategies to respond if bullying occurs. The lesson also includes guided discussion and activities that support positive self-talk and personal empowerment.

opportunities to practice

No matter what level of Buddy Group your child is in, structured opportunities to practice conversation skills are built into every class. Students apply what they’ve learned during lessons, interactive games, warm-ups, and guided peer interactions—including sessions with guest participants.

Please note: Each semester focuses on 2–4 lessons from the curriculum above to allow for deeper learning and repeated practice across multiple activities. This intentional pacing ensures students have time to absorb new concepts, generalize their skills, and build confidence over time. Many families choose to remain in Buddy Group for multiple semesters, as the curriculum evolves to meet their child’s growing communication and social needs.

More families share their experiences

Rebecca was recommended to me by my broker and it was a great recommendation! What helped me say “yes” to signing my daughter up was the initial discussion I had with Rebecca about the program, her approach to teaching, and the tools she uses in her classes (including games they play, which are my daughters favorite part!) Before starting Buddy Group, my daughter struggled with asking full questions and providing full answers. Since joining, my daughter’s communication skills have improved. She has started asking full questions more, and she doesn’t provide one-worded answers as often as she used to.

Khalil - Virtual classes

We decided to join Buddy Group after getting a referral from good friends of ours. It's been challenging in general to find people who want to work with our kids outside of school, so it was nice to find a group where they could meet some kids outside of their class and hopefully form relationships. They have been so excited to go to Buddy Group after school! I love that Buddy Group is an accepting environment for our kids to interact with others and learn.

Marci - In person classes

Before joining Buddy Group, my son had a hard time with social pleasantries and eye contact. He had worked with Rebecca before and was ready to branch out to socializing with peers. Because of our prior experience working with Rebecca, we knew that he would be in a program that was well thought out. We were hesitant that he may stop liking the group after we made the commitment, but we gave him a chance to try it out because we knew it would help him grow. He now enjoys going each week and is displaying more social attributes, even within the family. Buddy Group has helped him talk about communication, anxiety, and other topics with others who have similar experiences. My son’s favorite part is having a consistent group of peers to socialize and discuss things with.

rebecca - in person classes

They enjoy the classes and are making friends, learning what their role is in friendships.

It is hard to find a program that is for kids that are mainstream or close to it and not just academic classes. Buddy Group is friendship and social situation based and it's exactly what my daughter, Christina, needs as social awareness is her biggest challenge.

The classes focus on building confidence in real-life social situations—how to meet people, have conversations, and connect with peers. Christina feels safe to make mistakes because the teachers are patient and supportive. If a conversation goes off track, they guide things gently without embarrassing anyone.

One of the most meaningful things for us has been how much Christina is applying what she learns outside of class. She’s learning how to stay calm when emotions run high, and how to express her feelings in a way others can understand. Instead of yelling or blaming others, she’s starting to reflect on her part in disagreements and talk through problems.

Before joining, my biggest hesitation was whether the program would really help her make and keep real-life friends. But the way Buddy Group creates social situations as learning moments has truly helped her feel more confident connecting with others. She’s even starting to understand what it means to be a friend—not just to have friends.

From Christina herself:
“I like meeting new people. I like being able to have my own opinions and not be made fun of. I like the games we play to help learn about each other. I like how my teachers teach and have patience with us. We get to talk about serious topics and learn to help each other out without feeling embarrassed. We get to show our feelings in an appropriate manner that doesn’t make others uncomfortable.”

Christina truly loves Buddy Group, and I’m confident that what she’s learning here will help her build strong, lasting friendships in the future.

Laura - in person and virtual classes

"I love when I hear about my students getting together outside of class time."

-Rebecca, Buddy Group Founder

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD AT HOME

01.

Access to Materials

Parents receive access to class materials—such as visual supports, topic summaries, and slides—so you can stay informed and help your child apply what they’re learning between sessions.

02.

Home Carry-Over Activities

Each week includes a suggested carry-over activity to help your child practice new skills at home. These activities also give you insight into what they’re working on and how to support their progress in real-life situations.

03.

Program Support

We know questions come up! Families are welcome to reach out with questions related to the curriculum, weekly materials, or how to best support carry-over at home. We're here to make sure you feel confident supporting your child’s learning journey.

04.

05.

06.

04.

Explain the Super Bonus

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Explain the Super Bonus

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Classes Open to the Public For All Ages

Class availability is dependent upon enrollment.

In Person Classes

Goshen, NY

NY Classes Led By:

Lisa Currao

Virtual Online Classes

Available in NY and PA

Led By:

Rebecca Robbins

Program Founder & Communication Specialist

Level 1 and Level 2 Classes Available

Ages 13-16

Ages 17 -25

Class placement is determined based on:

Current Enrollment
Communication style and group compatibility
The support needs of enrolled students

Summer SEMESTER - Registration Coming Soon

Summer SEMESTER - NOW accepting applications

**Summer SEMESTER is currently in progress, but if you're interested in a future semester...

Let's Chat to See If This Program is Right For You

The next Buddy Group semester runs the week of July 7th - week of August 25th

$200 per month

~Classes meet weekly for one hour~

Virtual Classes Available for residents of NY & PA

NY In Person classes held in Goshen, NY

(NY Residents: Class may be approved for use of self-direction funds.)

Summer SEMESTER - Registration Coming Soon

**Summer SEMESTER - Now accepting applications

**Summer SEMESTER is currently in progress, but if you're interested in a future semester...

Let's Chat To See If This Program Is Right For You

$200 per month

Summer semester runs between the week of July 7th - week of August 25th

~Classes meet weekly for one hour~

Virtual Classes Available for residents of NY & PA

NY In Person classes held in Goshen, NY

(NY Residents: Class may be approved for use of self-direction funds.)

Is Buddy Group Right For You?

To Be a Good Fit for Buddy Group, Students Should Be Able To:

Communicate using sentences and respond to questions about familiar or preferred topics.

Participate in a small group setting with minimal adult support for attention and self-regulation.

To Qualify For Enrollment, Your Child Must Be Able To

Talk in sentences and answer questions about preferred topics.

Be able to attend in a small group setting with minimal adult support for attention and behavior

Use This Space To Talk About A Guarantee

If They Are Not 100% Satisfied.

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"I like when I get to talk and share conversations with everyone."

Before we started Buddy Group with Rebecca our son had difficulty understanding how to talk to family and friends. He did not understand the back and forth of having a conversation.

When I came across Rebecca’s program it was exactly what I was looking for to help my son.

Our son has been participating in Buddy Group for two years now and we have seen such great changes in him as a result. He now understands the back and forth of a conversation and has more appropriate comments and questions in his repertoire.

Rebecca was incredible in providing us with the tools we could use at home to continue conversations we started in class. Seeing our son share his ideas with others has been amazing.

When I asked my son what his favorite part of Buddy Group was, he said:

“I like when I get to talk and share conversations with everyone.”

We are forever grateful for Rebecca and her Buddy Group. ”

Danielle

frequently asked questions

Ask question here for the product that brings home the value or handles an objection.

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Ask question here for the product that brings home the value or handles an objection.

The best way to discover if this program is the right fit for you is to Schedule a Call With me

Now accepting applications...

Enter your info below and complete the form on the next page to be contacted for the Summer semester of Buddy Group.

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We're currently not accepting applications, but you can be the first to know about the next semester by completing this form. We look forward to having you in a future Buddy Group!

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