“Circles” Social Skills Curriculum

Circles is a social skills curriculum that was developed to help individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities improve their social interactions and communication skills. The curriculum focuses on teaching individuals how to identify and manage social boundaries, recognize different emotions, and build healthy relationships with others.

The Circles curriculum is divided into three main sections: Circle 1, Circle 2, and Circle 3. Each section focuses on a different aspect of social skills development.

Circle 1: This section focuses on helping individuals understand personal boundaries and how to interact appropriately with others. It covers topics such as personal space, appropriate touch, and safe and unsafe touches. The goal of Circle 1 is to help individuals develop an awareness of their own personal boundaries and respect the boundaries of others.

Circle 2: This section focuses on helping individuals recognize and understand different emotions. It covers topics such as identifying and expressing emotions, interpreting nonverbal cues, and responding appropriately to different emotional situations. The goal of Circle 2 is to help individuals develop emotional intelligence and improve their ability to communicate effectively with others.

Circle 3: This section focuses on helping individuals develop healthy relationships with others. It covers topics such as building friendships, managing conflict, and understanding social rules and norms. The goal of Circle 3 is to help individuals develop the skills and confidence to build positive relationships with others.

The Circles curriculum is often implemented in schools and other educational settings, but it can also be used at home with the support of parents or caregivers. The curriculum is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the needs of each individual, and it can be modified to suit a range of age groups and developmental levels.

Overall, the Circles social skills curriculum is a valuable resource for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities who may struggle with social interactions and communication skills. By focusing on personal boundaries, emotional intelligence, and healthy relationships, the curriculum provides individuals with the skills and tools they need to navigate the social world with confidence and success.

1.Purple Private Circle – I am the most important person in my world. No one touches me.

2. Blue Hug Circle – There are a few people who can hug me; parents, grandparents, and sweetheart.

3. Green Far Away Hug Circle – There are a few people who I can give hugs to such as my teacher, and my best friend on a special occasion, etc.

4. Yellow Handshake Circle – I shake hands with people I meet or see. There is no emotion attached and only limited physical contact.

5. Orange Wave Circle – I wave to distant acquaintances. There is no physical or emotional contact in this circle.

6. Red Stranger Circle – I do NOT touch, talk or give out any information to people I do not know.

My class watched the DVD today explaining how her(narrator) BFF first started off from the RED STRANGER CIRCLE to her, but the relationship had changed over time as they got to know each other better and spent more time together. Now, they both feel comfortable about each other being in a GREEN FAR AWAY HUG CIRCLE.