October 7 is class 1 of 8 in the Great Neck Park District's social skills class for children, teens and young adults of all abilities, at Great Neck House. Making friends is a skill, and skills can be taught.

Each class teaches one skill, and then everyone practices it for real: saying hello, starting a conversation and keeping it going, taking turns, joining a game, and losing a game and staying in it.

Small groups with a teaching assistant in each one, a game every class, and refreshments, so there's a real reason to talk to each other. There are 8 classes in all, running October through January, with Wednesday afternoon classes for ages 5 and up and a Saturday class for ages 14 and up.