How to Teach Social-Emotional Learning for Child Development

Learning how to manage one’s emotions, form connections with others, and make decisions is part of social, emotional learning (SEL). In this article, we’ll talk about how to teach social-emotional learning to your children and how it leads to vital life skills like making relationships.

True, knowledge is power, but academic success is only one part of a successful education. Social-emotional skills such as self-discipline, creating goals, and making decisions must also be taught to children. ‘Social, emotional learning,’ the method by which these techniques are taught and practiced (SEL).

SEL includes a wide range of benefits for pupils, from better grades to better social relationships. According to various studies, persons who have significant social and emotional competence are more likely to graduate high school and go on to have successful careers.

International SEL Day, which usually takes place on March 26, recognizes the importance of social-emotional learning. The theme for 2021 is “Building Bonds, Reimagining Community,” recognizing the importance of SEL for children all over the world.

Social, emotional learning (SEL) is an essential component of many school curricula, but it’s also easy to do SEL activities at home. If you’d like to understand more about the advantages of SEL, please continue reading.

Social-Emotional Learning has five essential skills.

If you’re wondering, “What is social-emotional learning?” it may be helpful to know the five key areas of practice. A leading SEL educator, CASEL, has identified them as a group.

1. Self-Awareness

To be self-aware, you must have a more vital awareness of your feelings and goals and your beliefs, strengths, and shortcomings. Think about how your ideas and actions are linked. This will allow you to make better decisions.

2. Self-Management

Once you’ve figured out what makes you tick, you may use self-control to keep your emotions in check. Practicing impulse control and assessing your performance in specific scenarios will help you quickly achieve your goals.

3. Making Decisions in a Reputable Way

Those who can take into account their own goals, the needs of others, and their own sense of self are better able to make sound decisions. Understanding the link between acts and effects is facilitated by this method.

4. Awareness of one’s surroundings

Healthy relationships can be built and maintained by using this SEL ability. It entails getting to know and empathizing with people from all walks of life, regardless of their differences in color, gender, culture, or age.

5. Relationship skills

This SEL skill teaches children how to behave in accordance with social norms, which is vital for establishing relationships. Communication, teamwork, listening, conflict management, and knowledge of emotions are all essential components.

Benefits of Emotional Intelligence

Several decades of research show that instilling social and emotional skills in youngsters has numerous advantages. Included are:

  • A greater capacity to deal with the difficulties of life
  • Better grades and attendance at school -Less behavioral or substance misuse issues
  • Improved social skills and pro-social behavior are required (such as kindness and empathy)
  • Anxiety and despair are lessened.
  • Enhanced capacity to make well-informed decisions about yourself and others
  • There is an increased possibility of graduating from high school, a successful career, and stable family life.

Take, for example, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded study from the early 1990s, which included 753 kindergarteners. Teachers used a five-point scale to score their students’ social competency skills, which covered things like “shares materials” and “listening to others.” After that, scientists tracked the progress of these kids for 20 years. Study findings published in the American Journal of Public Health in July 2015 found that students who gained one point on the social competency scale experienced:

  • It’s twice as likely that young adults will complete their undergraduate degrees.
  • 54% more likely that they will obtain their high school diploma.
  • 46% more likely to have a job when they turn 25.

Arrest rates, marijuana use, and public housing requirements were all linked to lower social competency scores.

Educational Activities that Help Children Develop Social and Emotional Skills

Even in the classroom, SEL doesn’t need to be restricted! You may boost your child’s social and emotional development by engaging them in these at-home activities.

Consume media with empathy

The time your child spends watching television can be used to teach him or her about social signs and emotional expressions. Stop the show and ask your youngster to describe how the character feels whenever a vibrant scene occurs. What state of mind do they appear to be in at the moment? Listening to music, reading, or watching movies while doing this pastime is also an option.

Schedule and To-Do lists should be made.

Do your children struggle with time management and making responsible choices, such as doing their homework or other responsibilities on time? For example, assist them in creating a “vision board” that outlines their hopes and goals for the future. They’ll learn about goal planning and decision-making as a result.

Relieve Anxiety and Depression

Even children experience times of stress in their lives. Facilitate the development of self-awareness in your child by teaching them techniques such as mindfulness, exercise, or music for self-regulation (self-management). In this social-emotional learning activity, even adults can gain something from it.

Self-Discovery Journal

Regularly (say once a week) encourage your youngster to mention particular things that offer them delight, such as walking the family dog or playing board games with siblings. Self-awareness and self-management will be taught to them (understanding how they react to things they like).

Make Sense of Emotions

Why are some people joyful and others sad? Do you feel startled or apprehensive? Encourage your youngster to depict common emotions in their artwork. During making the visuals, kids will reflect on their own and other people’s thoughts and feelings. Distinct colors might be linked to different emotions in your child’s mind (for example, red means angry).

Show Kindness to Strangers

Have your child look for ways to serve others throughout the day. There are many ways to show gratitude, from holding the door open to complimenting a friend’s new clothes or expressing “thank you.” As a result of this social-emotional learning activity, they’ll learn how to interact with others better.

Send Emails and Letters

Bring letter writing back into fashion! The practice of pondering on social ties occurs when your youngster writes to a family member or friend.

Take a listen to an Audio Blog.

Coping with grief, loss, and loneliness can be challenging. Emotion Motion, a podcast by SEL specialists at Move This World, will be launched in September 2020 to assist kids process these feelings. There’s a fun interactive element, so youngsters will have a good time thinking about and dealing with their emotions.

Make a Difference by Doing Good or Making a Donation

Children with exceptional social-emotional competency can empathize with people from all walks of life. Develop this ability by giving your time and money to a worthwhile cause.

Play Computer Games

Families can acquire social and emotional skills by having a game night together. In games, children learn how to work with others and take turns and how deal with frustration and solve difficulties. Their reactions to winning and losing will be observed by their peers.

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