Social emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing the skills and competencies necessary to understand and manage emotions, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. It encompasses a wide range of social and emotional skills, including empathy, self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills.
Why is SEL Important for Children?
SEL helps kids develop the skills they need, not just to be responsible and caring adults, but to flourish in all areas of life. It has been shown that children who have strong social emotional skills are better equipped to handle stress, build positive relationships with others, and make responsible decisions. SEL also develops their emotional intelligence, which is critical to thrive both at work and in personal relationships.
How Can SEL Help Children Succeed in Life?
SEL can help children succeed in life in a variety of ways. By developing social and emotional skills, children can:
- Build positive relationships with others
- Develop a sense of empathy and understanding towards others
- Communicate effectively with others
- Manage stress and difficult emotions
- Make responsible decisions
- Develop self-confidence and self-esteem
In other words, SEL helps foster skills that are key to success in all areas of life, including school, work, and personal relationships.
How Can Parents and Educators Support SEL?
Parents and educators can support SEL in a variety of ways. Here are some tips to help children develop social and emotional skills:
- Encourage children to identify and express their emotions
- Model positive social and emotional behavior
- Teach children problem-solving skills
- Create a safe and supportive environment for children to learn and grow
- Use resources and curriculums focused on SEL
- Foster relationships between children and their peers
- Encourage children to get involved in activities that promote empathy and understanding towards others
To sum up, social emotional learning (SEL) is a critical component of child development. By developing social and emotional skills, children can build positive relationships with others, manage stress and difficult emotions, and make responsible decisions. As parents and educators, it’s essential to take SEL on board and provide children with the resources they need to succeed and be happy in life. Whether it’s through modeling positive behavior, using SEL materials at home or in the classroom, or fostering relationships between children and their peers, we have a role in helping children develop these hugely important social and emotional skills.
The Kids’ Books of Social Emotional Learning.
Our educational books for children aged 4-9 each focus on a different topic from a SEL perspective. They build children’s self- awareness, social skills and emotional wellbeing and prompt important conversations. Each book includes interactive activities allowing children to relate the messages to their own lives.