What is Social-Emotional Learning?

As children grow, they must learn to effectively manage their emotions and make responsible decisions that benefit themselves and others. This is where Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) comes in. But what is social-emotional learning, exactly?

Learn what this means, why young people need it, basic skills they can learn, how SEL can be incorporated in schools, and more.

What is Social-Emotional Learning?

We define Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) as a teaching approach that helps students of all ages build important life skills like understanding their emotions, handling stress, and getting along with others. It's a long-term program that connects what children learn in school with their experiences at home and in their community [*].

Fortunately, many schools around the world are now including SEL as part of their teaching.

Why is SEL Important for Children?

Research shows that SEL programs have lasting benefits. Besides helping students succeed in their academics, SEL supports their mental health even after they graduate. More specifically, the benefits of SEL in schools include better self-awareness, social awareness, conflict resolution, and good decision-making.

Kids need these skills because they guide them through everyday situations. For example, a self-aware child can recognize when they are feeling overwhelmed or anxious. This would allow them to take a step back and practice calming strategies before they react.

What Happens When a Child Lacks Social and Emotional Learning?

When children do not master social-emotional skills, they can develop behavior problems that create disruptions not only for themselves but also for their peers. They may feel easily overwhelmed in social situations, might make impulsive choices, and not be able to properly focus or pay attention in class.

Through SEL, children learn about the importance of positive behaviors. They’ll have a greater understanding of why certain actions are good and worthy of praise.

What are the Basic Social-Emotional Skills?

Many Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs follow a framework created by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). This framework features these 5 important skills [*]:

• Self-awareness. Children learn to recognize their own emotions, strengths, and values. This helps them understand what makes them unique.
• Social awareness. They understand and empathize with the emotions and perspectives of others. For example, if a classmate feels sad or left out — a socially aware child will notice this and offer kind words or invite them to play.
• Self-management. These skills are especially important for helping kids stay calm when they’re upset. Moreover, they help children with their personal goals. A study found that children who displayed higher levels of emotion regulation had better productivity in the classroom and higher scores in literacy and math [*].
• Relationship skills. Here, children learn to communicate clearly and resolve conflicts in positive ways. These are essential in SEL because they help kids form strong friendships and work well with others.
• Responsible decision-making. Through SEL, children can think through decisions and weigh their impact on themselves and others. Responsible decision-making helps them be accountable.

Since these skills do not come naturally to all individuals, they need to be developed through instructions from parents and teachers, and real-life experiences.

How Teachers Can Incorporate SEL in the Classroom

Teachers might include social-emotional learning in the classroom within subjects like reading, math, or science. For example, while reading a story, they can discuss the characters’ feelings and decisions to help students practice empathy (as part of the social awareness skill).

Direct teaching may also be involved, in which teachers provide focused and structured lessons on self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Let’s say a teacher is focusing on self-management during a lesson. They might start by discussing the importance of managing emotions. The teacher can then introduce techniques such as deep breathing or pausing before reacting.

Next, the teacher might guide students through a role-playing activity where they encounter a frustrating situation, and students can practice using the self-management techniques they’ve just learned.

In addition to these, it would be good to integrate practices that encourage positive thinking. They may include gratitude (where students share one thing they are grateful for each day), emotional check-ins, and mindfulness.

How Can Schools Measure the Effectiveness of Their SEL Initiatives?

Schools can administer surveys to students, teachers, and parents to gather feedback on SEL programs. Monitoring students’ grades before and after SEL implementation is also an effective way to measure the impact of SEL initiatives.

It’s also important to check how well teachers and staff have been trained in SEL. This might involve assessing a teacher’s confidence and consistency in implementing SEP in the classroom.

Don’t forget to document changes in students’ behaviors. This allows you to gain important insights into how well students are applying the skills they have learned.

For example, if you notice that your students are solving conflicts on their own without needing your help, or if they are working together more effectively in group activities, these signs show that SEL is having a positive impact on them.

How Can Parents Support SEL at Home?

Parents can definitely take social-emotional learning home, and this can be done in a manageable and rewarding way.

Start with simple practices that help them become more aware of their emotions, express their feelings, and interact with others positively. Most importantly, be a role model by showing them you can handle challenges or conflicts calmly.

Here are some simple yet meaningful home activities to support social-emotional learning:

• Have family members share stories about a time they felt strong emotions to facilitate discussions about feelings.
• Set aside time for a family compliment circle where each person compliments another family member.
• Let your child keep a gratitude journal where they can write or draw things they are thankful for each day. This helps them focus on the good things in their life.
• Encourage them to perform small acts of kindness, such as helping a neighbor, helping with household chores, sharing their favorite toys or snacks, and arranging visits to elderly family members.

The Bottom Line

In the classroom, SEL helps students learn about themselves and how to interact positively with others. Parents will also need to support these skills at home.

In fact, parents and teachers can collaborate on strategies — parents can share insights about their child, while teachers can provide feedback on their progress and suggest activities that help them practice SEL skills.

To further support SEL, we invite you to check out our Social Skills Worksheets and Character Education Posters!

References:

1. Kim, D., Lim, J. H., & An, J. (2022). The quality and effectiveness of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) intervention studies in Korea: A meta-analysis. PloS one, 17(6), e0269996. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0269996
2. Cornelia, M., Leonardus Kocken, P., Diekstra, R. F., Reis, R., Gravesteijn, C., & Fekkes, M. (2023). What are the most essential social-emotional skills?: Relationships between adolescents’ social-emotional skills and psychosocial health variables: An explorative cross-sectional study of a sample of students in preparatory vocational secondary education. Frontiers in Education, 8, 1225103. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2023.1225103
3. Graziano, P. A., Reavis, R. D., Keane, S. P., & Calkins, S. D. (2007). The Role of Emotion Regulation and Children's Early Academic Success. Journal of school psychology, 45(1), 3–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2006.09.002