Social and emotional learning

Social and emotional learning (SEL) benefits all students. It involves learning to recognise and manage emotions, promote caring and concern for others, make responsible decisions, establish and maintain positive relationships, and handle challenging situations effectively. Research has shown that SEL is fundamental to children’s mental health, academic learning, moral development, and motivation to cooperate and achieve. Students who have social and emotional competencies and skills find it easier to manage themselves, relate to others, resolve conflict, and feel positive about themselves and the world around them.

Social and emotional learning (SEL) skills can be taught

Schools wanting to promote students’ mental health and prevent difficulties can address SEL in their curriculum, and reinforce SEL in all aspects of schools life. Social and emotional learning fits in clearly with the National Goals for School in the Twenty-first Century.

Teaching social and emotional skills has positive benefits for teachers and parents too. When children are taught specific strategies for recognising and responding to emotions, thinking through challenging situations and communicating effectively, they are less likely to act out in frustrations in the classroom or at home.

SEL skills are practical life skills

When teaching SEL, the emphasis needs to be not just on teaching about emotions and relationships, but on teaching practical skills that children can apply across a range of situations at school, at home and in the broader community. Formal instruction needs to be offered regularly to maximise the benefits. Opportunities for learning need to be coordinated across the school to support progressive development of skills with age and experience.

International research by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has identified the following core competencies which have been adopted for use in KidsMatter:

  1. Self-awareness
  2. Social awareness
  3. Self-management
  4. Responsible decision making
  5. Relationship skills

These five social and emotional skill areas are viewed as essential for the development of good mental health.