With Summer fast approaching, how’s your Social Battery doing?
It’s always a good time for these conversations.
Sometimes when I present, I get the fun of a goodie bag! And this Social Battery pin was part of a package from the Int’l Conference on ADHD earlier this year. My students and I love it! 😍
Last week, I returned from a great vacation. 🏖️ Ten days on Maui with family celebrating a number of birthdays and special occasions. All together with 12 people (including my just-turned-one grandson) – living together, shopping, dining and cooking together, hiking together, hanging out at the beach together. And guess who sat right next to me on the plane going as well as coming home? Yes, the small child!!
I grew up in a very small family, so for me, this is A LOT of people. Wonderful people who I love very much, but still a lot. So, when we returned on Saturday, my Social Battery was running a bit low. 🪫 My husband and I spent Sunday AT HOME. Just the two of us. Wow – did I enjoy laundry, playing my cello, watering plants, etc. I needed to recharge my Social Battery to be ready for my Monday morning babysitting and afternoon social groups. Taking a much-needed break.
With the end of the school year fast approaching, there is also a lot happening for most of my students. Let me share two very different SocialScales I made this week with one fifth-grade group and one young adult on the subject of Social Battery.
SocialScales in Practice
Recently, a girls' group has been talking about social energy, social desires, and how sometimes the two are not in sync. Like when you are at a sleepover and, even though you want to give your friend a great birthday, you feel yourself getting upset since there is SO much energy in the hot tub, and it appears you won’t be camped out next to your bestie! It might be time for a break, taking a few laps in the pool. 🏊🏼♀️
Everyone had examples of similar situations, and with a certain amount of glee, they put this SocialScale together:
This SocialScale took about 8 minutes to put together – these girls have become experts at creating and seeing what their choices are. Over the next few weeks, we will continue to discuss and practice, so stay tuned for updates! 🔔
What I have loved about exploring SocialScales is how it’s applicable to different students in different situations. My next example is from a young Autistic adult. Recently, we have been discussing how taking a break isn’t quitting – it’s making the right choice for what we need in the moment to be able to do our best. We used the example of a computer battery, something we all understand needs to stay well-charged to work at its best. Here’s what our SocialScale looked like:
Same but Different
As my friend and colleague Sarah Ward might say, these two SocialScales are “same but different.” This SocialScale emphasizes that taking a break is a good choice. 👍🏼 We referenced a recent Easter party to anchor the examples – to show that our Social Battery is not static – it shifts based on unfolding circumstances and our internal processes.
Again, the point here is to map out choices, not insist on actions. Often, our older students feel that leaving a social situation is bad or wrong. That, no matter what, they are expected to stay and power through it. But just because a lot of people are staying, doesn’t mean my student has to. 😌
We need to gently help them understand that taking a break is an important choice that young adults and adults learn to make based on how they are feeling. In fact, learning when and how to take a break might actually be a lifelong learning experience!
We sent a screenshot to this young man’s mom, who will explore using it to support and show choices. It’s a visual support that will remind my student of what we discussed and he decided – since he had input on all the wording. So, stay tuned for more info on how this is going!
Curious about if my SocialScales tool is right for you? Scroll down on this link to get a sneak peek!
Take good care during this time of transition.
