A small-group social skills program to support preschoolers in developing social-communication skills during lunchtime. It provides opportunities for children to practice peer interactions with guidance and support from a speech-language pathologist.

Lunch Bunch is for children ages 3–5 who want to build social skills in a fun, lunchtime setting. It’s welcoming to all children, whether or not they’ve previously attended group or individual speech therapy.

Build Friendships: learn to initiate and respond to peers, make eye contact, and use names when talking.

Practice Conversation Skills: take turns speaking, listen to others, and answer simple questions.

Develop Social Problem-Solving: practice sharing, asking for help, and handling small conflicts with guidance.

Strengthen Self-Regulation Skills: practice waiting, using quiet voices, and staying seated during mealtime.

Increase Confidence: build comfort and enjoyment when participating in group settings.

Children gather around a kid-sized table to have lunch and meaningful conversations with friends. Conversations will focus on age-appropriate topics such as favorite foods, toys, activities, family, and recent experiences to build and strengthen friendships.

The SLP supports social interactions by:

• Modeling and prompting positive language

• Facilitating conversation starters (e.g., “What’s your favorite food?”)

• Encouraging turn-taking and sharing

• Coaching children through challenges in real time

The group may include short, fun social games or activities after eating (e.g., passing a ball to say something kind, creating an art craft).

Preschool is a critical time for developing social-emotional skills. Lunch Bunch gives children a safe, supported place to practice these skills during a daily routine, helping them build the foundation for positive peer relationships and school success.

Talk with your child about who is in their Lunch Bunch group.

Practice greetings (“Hi, ___!”), asking questions (“What’s your favorite snack?”), and table manners at home (e.g., passing napkins to peers when they ask)

Celebrate your child’s efforts and successes in joining in with friends!