About PEERS® Programs & Debunking the Myths

Fiona Goodall • March 16, 2025

Neuroaffirming Approach to Learning About Making & Keeping Friends

At Making Connections Toowoomba (MCT), we know that social interactions don’t always come naturally—and that’s completely okay and happens to all of us. Everyone communicates and connects in their own way. For neurodivergent children, teens, and young adults, navigating friendships, conversations, and social situations can sometimes feel overwhelming.

That’s why we offer PEERS® programs (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills)— internationally recognised, evidence-based programs that provides practical, teachable social strategies for those who want to learn them. Importantly, PEERS® programs are delivered with a neuroaffirming approach. It is not about changing who you are; it’s about giving you some tools to connect with others in ways that feel right for you.

Debunking the Myths: Are PEERS® programs Neuroaffirming?

Some people, often those unfamiliar with the programs, may believe that PEERS® is not neuroaffirming. This is a misconception. PEERS® are strengths-based, neuroaffirming programs - in fact, to remind participants and their caregivers of this, each session starts with a 'neuroaffirming pledge'.

PEERS® programs do not aim to make neurodivergent people conform to neurotypical social norms. Instead, they provide participants with a range of strategies they can choose to use if and when they find them useful. It respects individual differences and honours the diverse ways people communicate and build relationships. Importantly, PEERS® programs align perfectly with MCT’s mission where we emphasise the acceptance of neurodiversity as a natural and valuable aspect of human diversity and don’t try to "fix" or "cure" our participants, rather:

We aim to help neurodivergent youth make connections with like-minded peers and build skills and strategies so they can interact within their world with greater comfort, connectedness, and confidence.

What is PEERS®?

PEERS® was originally developed at UCLA and is one of the most researched social skills programs worldwide. Due to over two decades of robust, longitudinal research, these are ‘evidence-based’ programs for teaching young people skills for making and keeping friends.

Unlike traditional approaches that focus on “fixing” social difficulties, PEERS® programs teach social strategies that neurodivergent people can choose to use if and when they find them helpful. It is also based on ‘gold standard’ interventions for children and teens, as caregivers also attend the program so they can learn how to socially coach their young person not only during the program but well beyond.

At Making Connections, we offer two PEERS® programs:

PEERS for Preschoolers (for children in Prep and Grade 1)
PEERS for Teens and Young Adults (14 years to 18 years)

Both programs provide a structured, supportive space to explore different ways to connect with others—especially like-minded peers who share similar interests.

What Does PEERS Teach?

PEERS® programs do not tell participants how they “should” behave. Instead, they provide clear, step-by-step guidance on:

✔️ Recognising and choosing social opportunities that align with your interests
✔️ Navigating conversations and group interactions at your own pace
✔️ Managing common social challenges (e.g., misunderstandings, disagreements)
✔️ Practicing social reciprocity in ways that feel authentic
✔️ Building and maintaining friendships with quality friends, people who appreciate you for who you are

How PEERS® Helps Different Age Groups

PEERS® for Preschoolers (Prep and Grade 1)

STARTING TERM 2

For younger children, PEERS® focuses on early play and communication strategies that help them engage with peers in ways that feel comfortable, including:

✔️ Taking turns in play and conversation
✔️ Learning how to join in with others (when they want to)
✔️ Understanding different social cues at their own pace
✔️ Managing big emotions in social settings

We are the first in Australia to deliver this program - Limited Places Available!

More information: Click HERE

PEERS® for Teens and Young Adults (14-18 years)

STARTING TERM 2

As young people grow, social expectations become more complex. PEERS® for Teens and Young Adults builds on foundational skills by focusing on:

✔️ Initiating and maintaining conversations with peers
✔️ Finding friendships based on shared interests
✔️ Understanding and using humour appropriately
✔️ Navigating social media and online communication
✔️ Managing peer conflict and handling rejection
✔️ Developing skills for romantic relationships (optional, based on participant interest)

In Term 2, we are offering a condensed, 10-week version.

More information: Click HERE

Join Us for the Next PEERS® Programs

Both PEERS® for Preschoolers and PEERS for Teens and Young Adults will be starting in the next couple of months at Making Connections Toowoomba. In fact, we are among the very first certified providers to offer PEERS® for Early Years, and we have been running PEERS® for Teens for several years.

If you would like to know if this is a good fit program for your family or you're interested in learning more or securing a place for your child or teen, visit our website or contact us for more details. We’d love to support your young person in making meaningful, lasting connections in a way that works for them!

Interested? Book a Time for a Complimentary Phone Call!

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The Importance of Catch Ups in Making Quality Friendships

By Fiona Goodall • April 27, 2025

The Importance of Catch Ups in Building Quality Friendships At Making Connections Toowoomba (MCT), our social skills programs focus on helping young people understand the characteristics of a quality friendship. One important element we teach is the value of catching up . Friendships, like all meaningful relationships, require effort from both people – and catching up in person plays an essential role in maintaining and strengthening these connections. Why Catch Ups Matter Catching up gives us the opportunity to share experiences, deepen trust, and reinforce the bond between friends . It’s during these moments that friendships are nurtured, mutual interests are explored, and memories are built. For neurodivergent young people, learning the purpose and benefits of catch ups can help make social connections more intentional, rewarding and long lasting. Understanding Individual Differences Catch ups come with an important reminder: just as no two friendships are identical, catching up looks different for everyone. Some people enjoy catching up weekly – or even more often – while for others, the occasional catch up is enough. It’s important to recognise that we all have different social needs and varying " social batteries. " Some young people recharge quickly and look for regular connection, while others need more time between social interactions. Pushing beyond our social limits can lead to fatigue, burnout and social avoidance, which can affect the quality of the friendship, and our ability to consolidate an emerging friendship. Making friends with people who respect our individual social thresholds helps build sustainable, quality friendships. It’s also important to remember that the way we catch up can look different too. For some, a catch up might mean doing activities together the entire time, while for others, simply sitting near a friend, sharing space quietly, is enough to feel connected. Both are valid ways of nurturing friendships. Catch Ups vs. Hanging Out It’s important to distinguish between "hanging out" and "catching up." Hanging out is often more spontaneous and casual, with no set structure or time limit. It usually relies heavily on ongoing conversation without a clear shared activity, which, while enjoyable for some, can sometimes feel overwhelming or stressful for neurodivergent individuals (not all, but often). In contrast, catching up usually has a more intentional purpose: connecting and spending time together, often through a shared activity around a common interest. Planning a catch up around something specific to do provides a natural focus for conversation and interaction, which can ease social pressure. For those learning to build friendships, an intentional, structured catch up can often be a more comfortable and successful way to strengthen connections — especially in the early stages of a new friendship. For catch ups to be successful, especially for young people learning these skills, it helps to have a few strategies in place: Plan ahead – agree on a time, place, and activity and communicate this clearly Choose an activity-based meet up – having something to do can ease social pressure (e.g. if you both like bowling, movies, or art/craft) Set time limits – keeping catch ups short can help manage social energy and have everyone leaving wanting more Have a backup plan – having a Plan B ensures there’s still something to do if things don’t go to plan or if someone gets bored At Making Connections Toowoomba, we believe teaching these strategies helps young people feel more confident in making and keeping friends. If you want to learn more about how to support your child, teen, or young adult in developing meaningful friendships, explore our social skills programs: Prep and Grade 1: PEERS for Early Years Primary School Grades 2 to Grades 8: Social Skills Program Teens 14–18: PEERS for Teens Young Adults 18–30: PEERS for Adults