Schools are starting to focus on social-emotional learning, but what does that mean?
It’s important for children to feel good about themselves and have positive relationships with others.
Still, it’s also crucial for them to be able to regulate their emotions and think critically.
That’s why social-emotional learning is so important – it encompasses all these skills and more.
So help your child get ahead by teaching them these essential life skills.
Check out this blog to learn more about 3 key pillars of social-emotional learning.
Before we deep dive into the article, let’s understand,
What Is Social Emotional Learning?
The term social-emotional learning (SEL) was first coined in the early 1990s by psychologists and educators working in the field of prevention science.
Since then, the concept of SEL has gained traction as a way to foster the development of essential life skills in children and young adults.
What’s the deal with Social-Emotional Learning,
It sounds complicated, but it really isn’t.
In fact, you can box SEL into three simple words: Understand Yourself (and others). The process of learning how to do this well starts early in life and continues throughout our entire lives as we encounter new challenges that require different skills every day!
SEL is critical for academic success.
Research has shown that SEL skills predict academic performance and that SEL interventions can lead to improved academic outcomes.
SEL is also essential for overall health and well-being.
Studies have shown that SEL skills can improve mental health, reduce risky behaviors, and increase life satisfaction and success.
Three Pillars of Social-Emotional Learning
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is a process through which students develop the skills to regulate their emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, and build positive relationships.
SEL has been shown to improve academic achievement, social adjustment, and mental health.
The three pillars of social-emotional learning are self-awareness, self-management, and social awareness.
These pillars encompass a broad range of skills and competencies essential for success in school, work, and life.
Each of these pillars is important in its own right but also interacts with the others to create a complete SEL program.
So let’s take a closer look at each one.
1. Self-Awareness: Knowing and Understanding Your Own Emotions, Thoughts, and Values
Self-awareness is the ability to understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.
It includes regulating one’s emotions and behaviors and having a clear sense of one’s personal identity and values.
This pillar of SEL includes skills such as self-awareness, self-regulation, and goal setting.
You can get this by looking inward and trying to understand your emotions better.
This can be done through things like journaling, meditation, or therapy.
It’s also important to set realistic goals for yourself and create a plan to achieve them.
You can do this by breaking down your goals into smaller, more manageable pieces.
Self-awareness is crucial because it allows you to understand your emotions and how they impact your thoughts and behaviors.
In addition, when you are aware of your emotions, you can better regulate them and stay in control of your thoughts and actions.
Tips for developing self-awareness:
- Examine your emotions and try to understand what triggers them
- Spend time alone reflecting on your values and what is important to you
- Set realistic goals for yourself and create a plan to achieve them
- Talk to a therapist or counselor if you need help exploring your emotions
Children who are self-aware understand their own emotions and can manage them effectively.
They know their strengths and weaknesses, and they can set realistic goals.
This self-knowledge gives children the confidence to try new things and persevere when encountering setbacks.
2. Self-Management: Managing Your Emotions and Behaviors in Positive Ways
Self-management is the ability to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in constructive and goal-oriented ways.
It includes delaying gratification, setting and achieving goals, and controlling one’s impulses.
This pillar of SEL includes skills such as emotional self-regulation, goal setting, and time management.
You can get this by learning how to control your emotions.
This can be done by practicing deep breathing, relaxation techniques, or mindfulness.
It also includes being able to set goals and achieve them. This means knowing what you want and making a plan to get there.
Finally, it’s essential to be able to control your impulses.
It means not acting on everything you feel and being able to think before you act.
Self-management is important because it allows you to control your emotions and impulses.
This helps you stay focused and achieve your goals.
When you manage your emotions, you are less likely to act impulsively and make decisions you may regret later.
Tips for Self-Management:
- Start small– Choose one or two goals to work on at a time.
- Make a plan– Write down what you need to do to reach your goals.
- Track your progress– Keep a journal or make a chart to track your progress.
- Get support– Ask a friend or family member to help you stay on track.
Self-management skills allow children to regulate emotions and behavior, especially in challenging or stressful situations.
When children manage their emotions and behavior, they can better stay focused and engaged in learning, cope with stress and setbacks, relate well to others, and make responsible decisions.
3. Social Awareness: Understanding and Considering the Perspectives of Others
Social awareness is the ability to understand the emotions, thoughts, and behaviors of others.
It includes empathy, perspective-taking, and understanding the perspectives of others.
This pillar of SEL includes skills such as social awareness, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving.
You can get this by trying to see things from other people’s points of view.
This can be done by listening to others, asking questions, and trying to understand where they’re coming from.
It’s also essential to be able to empathize with others.
It means being able to understand and share in their emotions.
Finally, it’s helpful to work with others to solve problems.
This includes being able to communicate effectively and compromise.
Social awareness is important because it allows you to understand and relate to others.
It helps you build relationships and work together effectively.
When you are aware of the thoughts, emotions, and perspectives of others, you can better understand and connect with them.
Tips for Social Awareness:
- Listen– Really try to hear what the other person is saying.
- Ask questions– Show that you’re interested in understanding the other person’s perspective.
- Empathize– Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and try to understand how they feel.
- Work together– Try to find a solution that everyone can agree on.
Social awareness helps your child succeed in school and life by teaching them to consider other people’s perspectives and feelings.
It also allows them to develop a more well-rounded view of the world around them, which can help them better relate to and interact with others.
Additionally, social awareness can help reduce conflict and improve communication.
Will End This Article With,
Social and emotional learning is important for children to develop healthy relationships and regulate their emotions.
There are three pillars of social-emotional learning: self-awareness, self-management, and social awareness.
The first pillar, self-awareness, is about understanding your own feelings and behaviors.
The second pillar, self-management, is about being able to control your own emotions and impulses.
Finally, the third pillar, social awareness, is about understanding other people’s feelings and perspectives.
All three pillars are essential for children to successfully navigate the world around them.
