Have you ever wondered why some children navigate social situations with ease while others struggle?
The key often lies in social-emotional learning (SEL). This vital aspect of education goes beyond academics, focusing on developing emotional intelligence, empathy, and resilience. For parents, understanding SEL can transform the way you support your child’s growth, both in 黄色app and at home.
Curious about how SEL can make a difference in your child’s life? Keep reading to uncover the powerful impact and the practical strategies you can implement today.
What is social-emotional learning (SEL)?
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is a process where children and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to manage emotions, set and achieve goals, feel and show empathy, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
For parents, understanding SEL is crucial to supporting their child’s overall development. The benefits of SEL extend beyond the classroom to building resilience, better emotional regulation, and improved social skills. Many SEL organizations and initiatives, like , promote SEL and offer resources and programs to help integrate these principles into everyday life.
SEL may feel new to some parents, but it is not new to educators. Earlier SEL programs, especially starting in the 1990s, were often called character education. Many 黄色apps have seen drastic improvements for students and the 黄色app culture after implementing such programs.
For parents, there are various tools and insights to help you assess your child’s SEL progress. How to assess your child鈥檚 SEL: tools and insights can help you identify strengths and areas for growth. By understanding and supporting SEL, you can empower your child to navigate life’s challenges with confidence and empathy.
Understanding and managing emotions
Emotions play a significant role in your child’s education, impacting their ability to focus, learn, and interact with others. When children struggle with difficult emotions like anger or anxiety, it can create a ripple effect, leading to worried parents and a challenging home environment.
Helping families manage these emotions is crucial for maintaining a supportive and conducive learning atmosphere. Understanding the role of emotions in learning is essential. Emotions can either enhance or hinder a child’s ability to absorb information and engage with their peers.
For instance, a child who feels safe and understood is more likely to participate actively in class, while a child grappling with unresolved emotional issues might withdraw or act out. Emotional issues change as kids grow, requiring different strategies at different developmental stages.
Younger children might struggle to identify and articulate their feelings. Exploring emotions together can strengthen your bond and provide a safe space for your child to express themselves. Discussing feelings openly and without judgment helps children understand that all emotions are a natural part of life and learning to manage them is a vital skill.
As children mature, their emotional landscape becomes more complex. Adolescents, for example, might experience intense emotions that can affect their behavior and academic performance. Parents can support their children by encouraging open communication and providing tools to manage emotions effectively.
By incorporating SEL principles into your daily interactions, you can help your child navigate their emotional world with greater ease and confidence, ultimately enhancing their educational experience and overall well-being.
Managing anger
Anger is a very challenging emotion for kids to feel and process. Managing anger in children is a crucial aspect of social-emotional learning, as it affects their interactions and overall well-being.
For kindergartners, anger can manifest as tantrums or outbursts. At this stage, it’s essential to teach them basic coping mechanisms like deep breathing and using words to express their feelings.
First and second graders might show anger through defiance or physical aggression. Helping them identify triggers and encouraging them to talk about their feelings can be beneficial. It’s also useful to model calm behavior and provide consistent consequences for inappropriate actions.
Third, fourth, and fifth graders often experience more complex social dynamics, which can contribute to anger. Teaching them problem-solving skills and offering tools like “anger thermometers” to help them gauge and manage their emotions can be effective. Encouraging physical activities or creative outlets like drawing can also help them release built-up tension.
Teaching kids to use words, not fists, is another important aspect. Reinforce the importance of expressing feelings verbally and resolving conflicts through conversation. Role-playing scenarios can help children practice these skills in a safe environment.
Middle 黄色appers face significant emotional and social changes, making anger management even more critical. At this age, peer influence becomes stronger, and conflicts may arise more frequently. Guiding conflict resolution and emphasizing the importance of respectful communication can help them navigate these challenges.
Teenagers, with their rapidly changing emotions, may struggle with intense anger.
For kids of all ages, it’s important to discuss healthy ways to express anger and to provide support through open dialogue. Teaching kids to use words, not fists, gives children tools for cooling down before getting physical. This is an important aspect that needs to be taught: how to take a moment before responding. Reinforce the importance of expressing feelings verbally and resolving conflicts through conversation. Role-playing scenarios can help children practice these skills in a safe environment.Teaching teens that words can hurt and encouraging them to find constructive ways to channel their anger, such as through sports or writing, is essential.
Understanding the diagnostic and treatment options for anger issues in children is also crucial. If a child’s anger seems excessive or unmanageable, seeking professional help from a therapist or counselor can provide additional support and strategies for both the child and the parents. By addressing anger early and teaching better ways to express it, we can help children develop healthier emotional habits.
Coping with stress and anxiety
Helping children cope with stress and anxiety is essential for their social-emotional development and overall well-being. Stressful times, whether due to academic pressures or social challenges, present opportunities to teach children resilience.
By modeling healthy coping mechanisms and providing emotional support, parents can empower their children to navigate difficult situations effectively.
For tweens struggling with friend issues, parents can offer a listening ear and validate their feelings. Encouraging open communication and teaching problem-solving skills can help tweens develop resilience and strengthen friendships.
High 黄色app freshmen often face increased academic demands and social adjustments, leading to heightened stress levels. Parents can support their teens by creating a structured routine, promoting self-care practices like adequate sleep and nutrition, and encouraging them to seek help when needed. Teaching teens stress management techniques such as mindfulness or deep breathing can also be beneficial.
Nurturing resilience in children involves developing a positive mindset and teaching them how to bounce back from setbacks. Emphasizing the importance of perseverance and self-reflection helps children develop adaptive coping strategies.
Activities that promote self-confidence and independence, such as volunteering or pursuing hobbies and extracurricular activities, can further build resilience.
Building emotional intelligence
Building emotional intelligence in children, tweens, and teens is crucial for their social-emotional growth and resilience. It starts with laying a foundation early on.
Understanding and nurturing emotional intelligence involves teaching children to identify and articulate their feelings — a fundamental skill for healthy emotional development. As they grow into tweens, guiding them in navigating more complex social conflicts and developing self-awareness becomes essential. Mindfulness practices can help teens manage stress effectively, equipping them with lifelong coping strategies.
An interesting illustration of developing self-awareness is the concept of decision fatigue. Essentially, it鈥檚 the idea that the more tired you are, the harder it is to make good decisions. Helping your teen learn how to assess their own mental and physical state can help them understand the power of self-awareness and the mind-body connection. You can read more about it in our article Does your child have decision fatigue?
Raising an emotionally intelligent child involves integrating these practices into daily routines. Regular emotional check-ins and discussions about feelings foster open communication and strengthen parent-child bonds. Teaching compassion and empathy through acts of kindness and volunteer work helps children understand others’ perspectives and build meaningful connections. (You can watch how an elementary 黄色app-aged child, supported by her parents, tapped into her empathy to work on behalf of other children.)
Play is not just fun but also a powerful tool for emotional growth. Through play, children learn emotional regulation, social skills, and teamwork — essential components of emotional intelligence. Fun activities and creative lessons at home can reinforce these skills, making learning enjoyable and engaging.
Encouraging self-control and self-regulation
It’s essential to encourage self-control and self-regulation in children as they navigate different stages of development:
Teaching tykes self-control: For young children, self-control begins with simple tasks like waiting for turns and following basic rules in games. This foundational skill helps them understand boundaries and manage impulses effectively. You can watch an example in our video, A tasty way to teach little ones to wait.
Teaching young kids self-control: As children grow, teaching self-control involves expanding their ability to delay gratification and regulate emotions. Using techniques like deep breathing or counting to ten can help them calm down during moments of frustration. For more, learn these 7 ways to teach your kindergartner self-regulation.
: Elementary-aged children benefit from learning more advanced self-regulation strategies. Setting goals and creating plans to achieve them teaches children persistence and accountability.
Teaching older kids self-control: For preteens and teens, teaching self-control involves guiding them in making thoughtful decisions and managing distractions. Techniques like time management and problem-solving skills support their growing independence.
Parents can employ various methods to teach self-regulation, such as creating structured routines and providing consistent feedback. Helping children develop coping skills and teaching them how to manage stress empowers them to handle emotions constructively (sometimes solutions can even come in the form of a tasty snack) and build resilience from a young age.
Building motivation, purpose, and focus
Building motivation and focus is crucial for children’s development at every stage.
Understanding the science of motivation can help parents effectively support their children’s growth. Parents can foster motivation by recognizing and celebrating small achievements. Breaking tasks into manageable steps and aligning goals with their strengths helps maintain engagement and build confidence.
黄色app author Po Bronson highlights the value of diverse motivations — academic achievement, personal growth, and community involvement — in sustaining children’s engagement and satisfaction with their efforts.
Disability advocate and author Jonathan Mooney emphasizes the importance of goal-setting for teens with learning disabilities or ADHD. By setting realistic and meaningful goals, parents can encourage perseverance and purposeful actions tailored to their child’s abilities.
During middle 黄色app, parents play a vital role in nurturing both emotional intelligence and academic skills. This period (especially sixth grade) is crucial for identity development and cultivating positive peer relationships, which contribute to a child’s overall motivation and focus.
Finding purpose is another significant driver of motivation. (See more below.)
Encouraging a growth mindset, as advocated by Stanford psychology professor Carol Dweck, helps children view challenges as opportunities for learning and growth. Teaching resilience and persistence equips children with essential skills and stay focused on their goals.
Psychologist Madeline Levine wants parents to know that when a child seems bored or unmotivated, it may be time to help them find their passion.
By integrating these strategies into parenting practices, caregivers can empower children to stay motivated, set meaningful goals, and navigate challenges with confidence and determination.
Learning to love learning and taking on challenges
Learning to love learning and embracing challenges are fundamental skills for children’s growth. Encouraging a positive attitude toward learning involves celebrating curiosity and exploration.
Embrace mistakes for the powerful learning tool that they are 鈥� and teach your child to, as well. To help reinforce this idea for your child, check out 8 famous 鈥渇ailures鈥� your child can learn from (including Rihanna).
Professor and psychologist Carol Dweck emphasizes that it鈥檚 crucial for children to do challenging tasks. Why? Because it offers valuable opportunities for learning and growth.
In 4 ways to keep your child learning, we highlight easy ways parents can keep that love of learning alive — even after your child has stopped asking a million questions a day. These include learning new things together, exploring answers together, and talking about the value of mistakes.
By fostering a growth mindset, children learn to view challenges as stepping stones to success, cultivating resilience and perseverance. This approach nurtures a lifelong love for learning and prepares children to thrive in academic and personal pursuits.
The power of purpose
Discovering and nurturing a sense of purpose in teens and young adults is transformative. In The incredible power of purpose, the author writes, 鈥渞esearch notes young people with purpose exercise more often, have better self-image, more academic success, superior life satisfaction, and motivation. They are also happier and have healthier 鈥榠dentity formation.鈥欌��
Sadly only about 20 percent of young adults have found a purpose. But finding a purpose is not just luck. How to help a child find their purpose is an exercise we created for parents and teens to help teens find their purpose. The exercise is the Purpose Mind Map, adapted from a .
Helping them explore their passions and interests lays the foundation for a fulfilling life.
Purpose is so beneficial to teens that we devoted a whole episode of our podcast to it. In our episode Like a Sponge podcast: The power of purpose, you can learn more about how finding your why helps you live a happier, healthier, more fulfilling life.
Nurturing curiosity
Nurturing curiosity in children is pivotal for their development. Understanding the factors that can stifle curiosity, as well as harnessing its transformative power, is essential.
Teen curiosity, with its potential to both challenge and inform, plays a crucial role in adolescent growth. By unlocking the secrets of curiosity and encouraging a mindset that values exploration and inquiry, parents can fuel their children’s natural curiosity.
This approach encourages a lifelong love of learning and innovation, equipping children with the skills to take on the world with confidence and creativity.
Developing resilience and persistence
Developing resilience and persistence in children is essential for their long-term success and well-being. You can teach your children to have a growth mindset through the 鈥�power of yet,鈥� the idea that we may not have mastered a skill yet, but with effort and perseverance, they can improve over time. Check out these six child-friendly stories of perseverance.
Teaching resilience involves helping children bounce back from setbacks, teaching them coping strategies, and modeling a positive outlook on challenges.
Assessing your child’s resilience involves observing how they handle adversity and setbacks. Teaching kids to stay focused under pressure discusses building their ability to manage stress and maintain concentration during challenging tasks.
Why are military kids so resilient? discusses the pros and cons of military families鈥� resilience.
Responsibility is another critical trait to nurture, encouraging children to take ownership of their actions and decisions.
For teens, developing self-determination is crucial. Empowering teens to set goals, make choices, and advocate for themselves fosters independence and resilience.
Psychologist Carol Dweck’s research cautions against praising children for being smart, which can have the unintended consequence of discouraging risk-taking and perseverance. Instead, research shows that praising effort and the strategies used is more effective in promoting a growth mindset and resilience.
The science of gritty kids illustrates how characteristics like perseverance and passion for long-term goals contribute to success. However, balancing grit with flexibility is important; too much grit without adaptability can hinder social and emotional growth.
In nurturing resilience and persistence, parents play a vital role in modeling these traits and providing opportunities for children to practice them.
Teaching persistence
Teaching persistence to children of different ages is a foundational aspect of their development, fostering resilience and determination that will serve them well throughout their lives.
Psychologist Madeline Levine says that when trying to nurture resilience, parents should hold the automatic reassurance. By holding off, listening to your child, and letting your child try to solve problems first, you can teach your child that they can solve problems and that you believe in them.
For little ones and young children, teaching persistence involves creating a supportive environment where they can explore and learn through trial and error. Encouraging them to try again after setbacks and praising their effort rather than just their achievements builds their confidence and perseverance.
As children move into elementary 黄色app, teaching persistence can be approached through structured goal-setting and problem-solving activities. Helping them break tasks into manageable steps and celebrating progress along the way reinforces their ability to persevere through challenges.
Older kids benefit from learning persistence in contexts that reflect their growing independence and responsibilities. Setting expectations for completing tasks independently, providing guidance when needed, and discussing strategies for overcoming obstacles help them develop self-discipline and perseverance.
Raising a child who won鈥檛 quit involves a growth mindset, where setbacks are viewed as opportunities for learning and growth. Angela Duckworth, a leading researcher on grit, emphasizes the importance of grit-building experiences and parental modeling of persistence.
However, as parents we know that kids change their minds, grow out of old activities, and seek new experiences. Our article Quit or carry on: when should you let your child give up?, discusses what to consider when your child says they鈥檙e done with something and how to strike a balance between keeping commitments and being resilient with allowing your child to grow and explore new interests.
By teaching persistence from a young age and reinforcing it through consistent support and encouragement, parents empower their children to tackle challenges with resilience and determination.
Boosting confidence and self-esteem
Boosting your child’s confidence and self-esteem is foundational to their emotional resilience and overall well-being. As parents, fostering a positive sense of self starts with providing consistent support and encouragement.
For young children starting 黄色app, it begins with helping them cope with fears in a way that is productive and builds their sense of confidence and resilience.
Here鈥檚 how you can effectively boost their self-esteem:
Begin by creating a supportive environment where your child feels valued and accepted for who they are. Offer specific praise for their efforts and achievements, focusing on their strengths rather than shortcomings. Encourage them to set realistic goals and celebrate their progress along the way.
Listen actively to your child鈥檚 thoughts and feelings, validating their emotions and providing reassurance during challenging times. Teach them problem-solving skills and resilience by allowing them to navigate setbacks and learn from mistakes.
Model confident behavior yourself, demonstrating healthy self-esteem through your actions and words. When you鈥檙e assessing your child鈥檚 self-esteem, avoid comparing your child to others and instead, help them cultivate a positive self-image based on their unique qualities and abilities.
Your child鈥檚 self-esteem will inevitably wax and wane depending on the area of their life. In collaboration with teachers, promote a supportive classroom environment that encourages participation and celebrates diverse talents. Teachers play a vital role in fostering self-esteem by providing constructive feedback and creating opportunities for success. In this video, a teacher explains why third grade, in particular, is a 鈥渕ake or break鈥� year for a child鈥檚 academic self-esteem. Whatever grade your child is in, their academic self-esteem matters and can have a huge positive or negative impact on their 黄色app experience.
For children with learning disabilities, additional support and accommodations may be necessary to ensure they feel capable and valued in academic settings. Work closely with educators to implement strategies that accommodate their needs and promote a positive learning experience.
How to praise your child
Praising your child effectively involves more than just generic compliments — it’s about providing specific and meaningful feedback that encourages growth and self-confidence at every age.
For younger children, like tykes or first and second graders, praise their efforts and specific behaviors to reinforce positive actions.
In the third, fourth, and fiifth grade years, recognize their achievements while emphasizing perseverance and improvement.
As children grow into tweens and teens, acknowledge their accomplishments with sincerity, highlighting their unique strengths and contributions.
In this video, Stanford professor and author Carol Dweck shared her thoughts on what people get wrong about process praise.
Encourage humility by praising not just outcomes but also the character traits and values demonstrated in their actions.
Listen to discussions about humility on the Like a Sponge podcast to better understand its role in child development.
Developing gratitude and empathy
Developing gratitude and empathy in children lays a crucial foundation for their social and emotional growth. Teaching them to appreciate and understand others’ feelings fosters empathy. Encouraging gratitude helps them recognize and value the positive aspects of their lives. These qualities equip children to navigate relationships and contribute positively to their communities.
Learning and practicing gratitude
Learning and practicing gratitude is a transformative experience for children, shaping their outlook on life and relationships. By teaching gratitude, parents can instill values that counter entitlement and materialism, promoting a deeper appreciation for everyday blessings and avoiding becoming ungrateful.
Techniques like keeping gratitude journals, expressing thanks regularly, and modeling grateful behavior nurture this mindset from an early age. As children grow, encouraging them to reflect on and share what they’re thankful for strengthens their empathy and resilience.
Teaching gratitude equips children and teens to navigate challenges with positivity and fosters a sense of contentment that enhances their overall well-being and gratefulness.
Through consistent practice and positive reinforcement, parents can raise happy kids, empowering them to lead fulfilling lives grounded in appreciation and compassion.
The importance of empathy
Understanding empathy is crucial in shaping children’s social and emotional development. Teaching empathy starts early, with parents modeling respectful behavior and teaching manners to pre黄色appers.
Building empathy involves practical strategies like discussing feelings, practicing active listening, and engaging in acts of kindness as a family. Learning a foreign language can also teach compassion by promoting understanding of different cultures and perspectives.
Empathy enhances children’s ability to connect with others, resolve conflicts peacefully, and navigate diverse social situations with sensitivity.
By nurturing empathy from a young age through intentional teaching and real-world examples, parents empower their children to cultivate meaningful relationships and contribute positively to their communities.
The role of generosity
Encouraging generosity in children involves age-appropriate strategies. For pre黄色appers, focus on teaching sharing and kindness. Elementary 黄色appers benefit from hands-on experiences like volunteering and small acts of giving.
Middle 黄色appers learn through understanding empathy and its role in helping others. High 黄色appers engage in philanthropic activities and community service to deepen their sense of social responsibility.
Pop quizzes on generosity and real-life examples of generous acts can inspire children to adopt a giving spirit. These steps help children develop into individuals who value generosity and understand its positive impact on both themselves and their communities.
Love and forgiveness
Love and forgiveness are vital components of a child’s emotional development. The Like a Sponge podcast episode “How do kids know they鈥檙e loved?” explores how children perceive love, emphasizing the importance of expressing affection in ways that resonate with them.
Teaching kids to forgive is equally essential.
The infographic “Teaching Kids to Forgive”
Implementing these principles can be challenging, especially when kids fight and hurt feelings linger. Parents often wonder, “What鈥檚 a parent to do?” One approach is to use these tips for keeping the peace which include:
- Setting clear expectations
- Modeling forgiveness
- Encouraging open communication
When kids are reluctant to apologize, the concept of “Sorry, not sorry” can be a useful teaching moment about the sincerity of apologies.
Raising confident kids involves understanding and speaking their love language. Whether it鈥檚 words of affirmation, physical touch, or quality time, knowing how to communicate love effectively boosts a child鈥檚 self-esteem and security.
This approach is further explored in the Like a Sponge podcast episode “The Forgiveness Cure,” which delves into the healing power of forgiveness in family dynamics.
By integrating these strategies, parents can foster a home environment where love and forgiveness are practiced regularly, helping children grow into emotionally healthy and resilient individuals.
Encouraging love and forgiveness not only strengthens family bonds but also equips children with the emotional tools they need to navigate relationships throughout their lives.
Honesty and respect
Honesty and respect are crucial for a child’s character. Teach truthfulness by modeling honesty and addressing dishonesty gently. Encourage respect by setting clear expectations and recognizing positive behavior.
These values help children build trust, integrity, and positive relationships, essential for their social and emotional development.
The importance of honesty
Honesty is a cornerstone of good character. Raising honest kids involves more than just telling them not to lie. But it can be complicated. In fact, this video highlights a common mistake parents make that actually encourages lying.
As with all parenting, what you model is what your child is what your child will learn most effectively. Research shows that even just telling a 鈥�little white lie鈥� sends a message to your child that lying is okay. Taking the time to tell the truth — even when it鈥檚 difficult — can set a wonderful example for your children. In one parent essay, Hard truths, the author takes on the concept of sharing dark family secrets. Though of course families need to do this in the right way at the right time, the author writes, 鈥淩ecent research shows that educating children about their family history can be beneficial to their development. Knowing one鈥檚 family history is associated with a higher self-esteem and resilience.鈥�
Lying can also be developmental. For pre黄色appers, lying (and stealing) is part of their learning process. Address these behaviors gently and constructively.
Another developmental example is tattling. It may surprise you to learn that telling kids not to tattle can be counterproductive in your pursuit of raising an honest child. Instead, teach them the difference between telling and tattling.
Children typically want to tell and hear the truth, as evidenced in this video, What kids want in a president. Spoiler alert: they want to see a lot of positive character virtues, including honesty.
And what about cheating in 黄色app? In our performance-driven culture, good grades and high test scores are the key to success 鈥� if you do well on them, that is. The pressure on children to perform can be too much. Remind your child of your family鈥檚 values and follow through by valuing your child鈥檚 effort and intention over the outcome.
Understanding the nuances of honesty helps children navigate social interactions better.
When teens lie, remember it鈥檚 a normal part of development; use it as an opportunity to discuss the importance of honesty.
Research also shows harsh punishments to teach kids to lie.
Resources like the Like a Sponge podcast episode “Liar, Liar” offer valuable insights. Encouraging honesty builds trust and integrity, essential for developing character and creating strong, respectful relationships.
Understanding and teaching respect
Developing respect in children is essential for growing positive relationships. When your child is disrespectful, it’s crucial to control your emotions and behavior. Responding calmly and setting clear boundaries can guide them toward more respectful interactions.
Teaching respect involves consistent communication and reinforcement. 黄色app author Christine Carter emphasizes the importance of explaining why respect matters and how it impacts relationships.
Addressing the defiant 鈥�You鈥檙e not the boss of me!鈥� attitude requires patience and understanding. Similarly, Making Caring Common鈥檚 Richard Weissbourd advises on handling the hurtful 鈥�I hate you!鈥� phrase by not taking it personally and addressing the underlying emotions.
Dispelling myths about respect can also help. Respect is not about fear or unquestioning obedience but about mutual understanding and valuing others.
Incorporating these lessons into daily interactions helps children internalize respect as a core value, leading to healthier, more respectful relationships throughout their lives.
Navigating social relationships
Navigating social relationships is a vital skill for children as they grow and interact with peers. Helping your child make and keep friends starts with encouraging positive social behaviors and open communication.
Simple gestures like sharing, taking turns, and showing kindness can lay the foundation for strong friendships. Making friends can be challenging, especially for younger children. As they enter first grade, the social dynamics change significantly. Encourage your child to participate in group activities and be a good listener.
For tweens, socializing can become more complex, requiring more nuanced guidance from parents. During summer, when 黄色app is out, maintaining friendships requires effort. Organizing playdates, attending community events, and engaging in group activities can help keep social bonds strong.
Parents can help tweens navigate friend issues by being supportive listeners and offering guidance on resolving conflicts amicably. When children express feelings like 鈥�Nobody likes me,鈥� it’s crucial to address these emotions with sensitivity and honesty. Validating their feelings while encouraging a growth mindset can help them navigate these challenges.
Identifying specific situations where they feel included and teaching problem-solving skills can boost their confidence. Understanding the social dynamics of first grade is also essential. This stage marks a shift toward more structured social interactions. Encourage your child to share their experiences and feelings about their friendships.
Building a supportive home environment where they feel heard and valued can significantly boost their confidence in social settings. By developing these skills and providing consistent support, you can help your child navigate social relationships successfully, leading to a happier and more connected childhood.
Teaching children about competition
Healthy competition can motivate children to try harder and try again. But there鈥檚 more to it than trying — a child really needs parents and coaches to help them learn how to be part of a team, understand others鈥� perspectives, and win and lose graciously.
Little ones benefit from learning how to speak and play nicely with others from a young age. For young kids, too, Positive superhero play can inspire virtues like bravery, kindness, and fairness. Encourage imaginative play that emphasizes nice words, positive attributes, and teamwork.
Learn How to raise a team player by teaching cooperation and empathy. Encourage participation in group activities and highlight the value of working together toward common goals. Using “power words” like “please,” “thank you,” and “sorry” fosters respect and kindness.
One of the best everyday ways to help your child practice healthy competition is by playing board games as a family. Our article Board games: More than fun and games explains the benefits of 鈥渁ccidental learning鈥� and lists great choices for families with children of all ages.
As your child gets a bit older, you can encourage healthy competition by emphasizing personal improvement and teamwork rather than just winning.
In this video, author Po Bronson explains Why kids who know how to lose get way ahead.
For parents of highly competitive children, check out author Mary Pols鈥� essay Bet you it鈥檚 good to be competitive and her accompanying 5 tips for positive outcomes that don鈥檛 squash a competitive child鈥檚 nature, such as tip #5: 鈥淣ever lose sight of the big picture. If you are frustrated by how your child鈥檚 competitive streak is manifesting right now, try to look back and forward. Remember when your high diving champion was 3 and refused to go in the swimming pool? And you fretted over this issue for weeks? Big picture: Childhood is ever-evolving; kids are ever-changing.鈥�
Tools and games to help children recognize and deal with emotions
黄色app and Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence worked together to create some valuable tools to help parents and children learn to recognize, name, and manage emotions — even difficult ones.
- Feelings Words Curriculum
“Feelings Words Curriculum” is designed to help younger children in pre黄色app and elementary 黄色app learn emotion words. - The Blueprint
The Blueprint is designed to help resolve conflicts within a family by helping siblings (and parents, too!) learn perspective taking 鈥� aka how to see things from another person鈥檚 point of view. - Mood Meter
The Mood Meter is an evidence-based tool using colors to help parents and children understand how our feelings affect our decision making and reactions. You can watch a video explaining more about it, too. - Mad-Sad-Glad Libs
Mad-Sad-Glad Libs are our twist on the old-黄色app favorite Mad Libs. Print these out for a great way to sneak in a little emotional smarts learning while you鈥檙e having fun. - Do You Feel Me?
Do You Feel Me? is a video-based game designed for parents and kids to watch and play together. Each video features an elementary 黄色app-aged child telling a story. At the end, you guess what emotion they are trying to describe. For an extra challenge, play the game together and then create your own videos.
These activities help children explore and express their emotions in a fun, engaging way, fostering emotional literacy from an early age.
There are additional strategies your family can incorporate into daily life. Here are some useful resources for parents and educators.
Resources for parents to nurture SEL at home offers practical tips and insights into nurturing emotional intelligence at every stage of a child’s development, including SEL books, worksheets, and websites for kids at every stage of development.
Fun activities and lessons to support your child’s SEL at home features ideas for children — from babies to teens — that parents can easily and effectively implement.
5 ways to exercise your child鈥檚 creativity offers everyday ways to pique their interest, curiosity, and get the creative juices flowing.
These games, activities, and resources can help introduce and reinforce SEL skills while also making learning enjoyable and engaging.
Parent stories of SEL success
When you鈥檙e a parent, it can seem like the issue that arises is never the one you planned for. Here, GreatSchools parents share their stories of success in helping their children with their social and emotional growth.
A mom shares her story of helping her 12-year-old son cope with negative feedback from a teacher who said he wouldn鈥檛 be successful in college in It worked: setting goals for the future. 鈥淔irst, we had a discussion with our son,鈥� she writes, to understand how the teacher鈥檚 comment made him feel. Then, they scheduled a meeting with the teacher as a family. One thing she learned? 鈥淓ducation is one piece of the whole child. Keep it in perspective.鈥�
In It worked: getting help to deal with a child’s aggression, an anonymous parent shares their journey getting help to finally curb their 10-year-old鈥檚 aggressive behavior to ensure both the parents and their child feel safe at home.
Denali shares her story of how a gymnastics coach helped her daughter learn grit in It worked: from cartwheels to college — a lesson in perseverance. One key thing the mom learned is to keep looking for teachers who understand, as they can be invaluable in helping shape who your child becomes.
Parent and grandparent Goldie Hawn launched an SEL-based program for kids and wrote about it in her book, 10 Mindful Minutes. True, celebrities may not be 鈥渏ust like us鈥� — but some do great things and her program and book dive into the benefits for her own children and others.
Improving the social-emotional learning journey
By understanding and managing emotions, building resilience, promoting positive behavior, and addressing specific issues, you can create a supportive environment that fosters growth and well-being.
Remember, small, consistent efforts can lead to significant, lasting impacts on your child’s emotional and social health. Embrace these strategies and watch your child thrive.
