Educators recognize children's social competence as an indicator of school readiness. Children's social competence may be promoted prior to kindergarten through parents' discipline. We assessed parent discipline as a predictor of 37 low-income pre-schoolers' social skills over four months. Parents answered open-ended questions about how they would…

This study aims to investigate the relation between preschoolers' social skills as a mediator and delay of gratification as a moderator, and their cognitive distraction strategies and problem behaviors. The participants of this study were 100 randomly selected preschoolers aged 3 to 5 years, who were attending a private preschool in Ankara, the…

We examined the relations between language skills and behavior problems and whether social skills mediated these relations among preschool children enrolled in Head Start programs. Participants included 242 preschool children and their parents in Head Start programs. Over a 2-year period, parents and teachers reported children's behavior problems…

The Social Skills Improvement System-Teacher Rating Scale (SSIS-TRS) has been widely used to measure the social skills and behaviors of children and adolescents that are challenging. Studies examining the psychometric properties of the SSIS-TRS have been conducted, but the dimensional structure and item properties of the SSIS-TRS have not been…

Introduction: This study examined the theoretical model of peer social support's mediation in the effect that social skills have on the academic self-concept of students with special needs in inclusive primary schools. Students' academic self-concept was measured using the Academic Self-Concept Questionnaire, social skills using the Social Skills…

It is widely assumed that (1) children with challenging behavior may lack the social-emotional skills to be successful in classroom settings and (2) instruction in social-emotional skills can help prevent the occurrence of young children's challenging behavior. However, no data are available to indicate whether specific social-emotional skills…

Students with autism spectrum disorder often require social supports to function well in a mainstream class setting. Researchers have demonstrated the effects of social skills training for students with autism, but their work has focused primarily on topographically defined outcomes, such as increasing the frequency of social behaviours. More…

This preliminary research examined the effectiveness of an app-based classroom counseling intervention on student social skill development. Two kindergarten classrooms in a high-poverty school were randomly assigned to receive social skills training as usual (TAU) or TAU plus intervention. Teachers completed the Social Skills Improvement System…

Despite the need for assessments targeting social and emotional learning (SEL) skills within multitiered systems of support, there are few brief SEL measures available. To address this need, this article describes the development of the Social Skills Improvement System--Social and Emotional Learning Brief Scales--Teacher Form (SSIS…

In this methodological illustration, we examined Tier 2 social skills interventions to support school success for students with or at risk for emotional or behavior disorders. We presented findings examining the usability and feasibility of the "Social Skills Improvement System-Intervention Guide" and "Positive Action Counselor's…

In this methodological illustration, we examined Tier 2 social skills interventions to support school success for students with or at risk for emotional or behavior disorders. We presented findings examining the usability and feasibility of the "Social Skills Improvement System -- Intervention Guide and Positive Action Counselor's Kit,"…

Effective universal social skills programs are intended to facilitate the development of students' social competencies and enhance classroom learning. As such, the present study sought to provide additional insights and a more nuanced understanding of the impacts of one such universal program, the Social Skills Improvement System Classwide…

The establishment of reciprocal friendships is a challenge for many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Social interaction difficulties emerge early, persist throughout development, and have widespread functional impact. As such, interventions focused on social functioning are needed in early intervention programs. This two-part study…

Short term experimental studies by DiPerna and colleagues have demonstrated the efficacy of the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS) to measure and improve the social skills and academic functioning of students from Preparatory year to Grade 3 and to decrease problem behaviours. This longitudinal school-led project applied the multi-tiered…

Parent and Teacher perspectives of social skills, peer play and problem behaviours in school-age children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) were investigated. Forty-three parents and 35 teachers of children with an ASD aged between 7 and 9 years completed the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS), reporting on the social skills and problem…