We hear a lot about social-emotional education lately. But... what does it really mean? What can we do about it? Does it really work? Although most of us didn't grow up this way, we want our children to thrive in their lives. We want to provide them with the tools to understand their emotions, build empathy, and interact harmoniously with others. Here's what social-emotional education is, how it benefits young minds, and how we can foster it at home.
What Is Social-Emotional Education?
Social-emotional education is an approach to teach children how to understand and manage their emotions, developing empathy, building positive relationships, and making responsible decisions. It encompasses a range of skills that help children communicate better, develop self-awareness, regulate their emotions, and navigate social interactions. This type of education helps young children form secure relationships, build resilience, and develop a positive sense of self.
When to Start
Social-emotional education begins as early as infancy. Babies may not yet have words to describe their emotions, but they are incredibly perceptive to the emotions of their caregivers. Studies show that infants as young as six months can recognize different emotions through facial expressions and tone of voice.
Here’s how social-emotional learning evolves through early childhood:
Infancy (0-1 Year): Social-emotional learning starts with bonding. When caregivers respond to babies’ cries, hold them close, and provide comfort, infants learn to trust and feel secure. This sense of safety forms the foundation of emotional resilience and self-regulation.
Toddler Years (1-3 Years): During this stage, children start to recognize their own emotions and those of others. Make “Feelings Talk” part of your daily life. Start introducing basic emotions as happy, sad, bored, angry... Mimic face expressions that usually come with a feeling, in this way they start matching them with the corresponding feeling. As they encounter new feelings like frustration and excitement, they may struggle to express them. Simple conversations, labeling emotions (e.g., “I see you’re feeling frustrated”), and gentle guidance on managing emotions help toddlers begin to understand and control their reactions.
Preschool Years (4-5 Years): At this age, children become more social and are eager to interact with peers. They start learning empathy, sharing, and the basics of resolving conflicts. Preschoolers benefit from guided practice in taking turns, using words to express feelings, and recognizing how their actions impact others. Engaging in role-playing games or reading stories about emotions can also be beneficial at this stage. This is a process, and it may be different for every family as we are all different.
Early Elementary Years (6-9 Years): By this age, children are ready to develop more nuanced social skills, such as cooperative play, problem-solving, and expressing empathy in friendships. They become more aware of their own strengths and challenges, so gentle encouragement to handle setbacks and celebrate efforts reinforces resilience. Even though the early childhood years are gone, and they can recognize emotions, be empathetic… they are still little and still need our guidance, set up some time aside every day to truly connect and have “ Feelings Talk” with your children, this talk may be different to the one you started during the toddler years, but you are creating a comfort place to talk for life.
Benefits of Social-Emotional Education
Integrating social-emotional skills into early childhood education fosters several core abilities:
Emotional Regulation: Children learn to recognize, label, and manage their emotions. This is essential in moments of frustration, anger, or sadness.
Empathy and Compassion: By understanding their own emotions, children learn to recognize and respond to the emotions of others with kindness and empathy.
Effective Communication: Social-emotional skills help children articulate their feelings and needs, reducing frustration and encouraging healthy communication habits.
Problem-Solving Skills: Children gain tools to work through conflicts with others, whether it’s taking turns, sharing, or finding a solution together.
Resilience: This foundation helps kids develop a positive mindset, equipping them with tools to handle challenges, overcome setbacks, and bounce back from failure.
How Social-Emotional Education Looks at Home
Social-emotional learning doesn’t require a classroom—it can be practiced in simple, everyday interactions. As parents, you have the unique opportunity to incorporate these skills into your child's life through play, conversation, and positive reinforcement. Here are a few ways to start:
Model Emotional Awareness: Children learn by observing. Express your emotions openly and talk about how you’re handling them. If you’re frustrated, share that feeling and explain what you’re doing to calm down, like taking deep breaths or taking a quick break.
Validate Feelings: When your child expresses an emotion, validate it. Avoid dismissing feelings like sadness or anger; instead, acknowledge them. Saying, “I see you’re feeling frustrated—would you like to talk about it?” teaches your child that their emotions are safe and accepted.
Create a Calming Space: Designate a cozy corner with books, a stuffed animal, or soft toys where your child can go to cool off and practice calming techniques when overwhelmed.
Practice Empathy: Encourage your child to think about others' feelings. Ask questions like, “How do you think your friend felt when you shared your toy?” or “How can we help someone who’s feeling sad?”
Use Storytelling to Explore Emotions: Books are fantastic for teaching social-emotional skills. Choose stories with characters experiencing emotions and discuss them with your child. Ask questions like, “How do you think they feel?” or “What would you do in their place?”
Label Emotions: Start naming emotions when you notice your child expressing them. For example, “I see you’re excited!” or “You look like you’re feeling sad.” This helps them build an emotional vocabulary, so they can express themselves with words.
Praise Effort, Not Just Success: When your child practices patience, empathy, or problem-solving, acknowledge it. This helps build their self-confidence and reinforces the importance of trying, regardless of the outcome.
Practical Tips
Social-emotional education might feel unfamiliar and a challenge, as this was not a very hot topic when we were children. Our children make us humbler and more empathetic; we are all growing and becoming better people. Here are some starters tips for making it a natural part of your family life, little by little.
Lead by Example: Show that it’s okay to feel vulnerable, that everyone has emotions, and that these can be managed in healthy ways.
Encourage Open Communication: Invite your child to share their thoughts and feelings, even the uncomfortable ones, without fear of judgment.
Be Patient and Consistent: Social-emotional learning is a journey. Remind yourself and your child that it’s okay to make mistakes and that growth takes time.
Use Play as a Tool: Play-based activities, especially those that involve teamwork or imaginative play, are powerful ways to teach social skills in a fun, natural way.
Having social-emotional education at home is key. It takes time, patience and personal growth, as many of us don't have all those tools in our tool box either. We can help our children develop to thrive emotionally and socially. It may take extra effort, but the rewards are well worth it. Equipping the next generation to be empathetic, self-aware, and resilient individuals. Together, let’s set the foundation for a kinder, more understanding world, one mindful interaction at a time.