Create a Happier, Healthier Child by Fostering Their Social-Emotional Skills
In the first few years of your child’s life you are most likely tracking all kinds of developmental milestones, such as how much do they weigh, do they respond to verbal cues, and at what age did they first crawl among others. While most parents understand the importance these milestones play in their child’s growth, we want to ensure that parents also recognize that good social and mental health is just as critical to your child’s outcome as is physical and cognitive development.
Below we help you understand the importance of establishing good social-emotional skill s at an early, how parents can help encourage positive development, and resources to help you learn more and foster the skills in your child.
What is Social-Emotional Learning and Why is it Important?
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is an important part of early childhood development as it teaches children how to identify and manage their own emotions and those of others around them. It is the foundation for creating friendships, connecting positively with others, learning to feel and express empathy, and making good decisions. Research has shown that children who are socially and emotionally healthy are happier overall, have strong relationships with others, are more motivated to learn and participate in class, have better behaviors, and fare better in college and careers.
What Can Parents Do to Support SEL Development?
It is crucial that parents establish a responsive, loving, and trusting relationship with their child from the very beginning. Children learn best from their parents which is easily seen by the way they mirror their parents’ facial expressions and mimic their behaviors so it is important that parents model the actions they want to teach. When children attend a child care or Pre-K program, families should work with the caregiver to reinforce the skill development that is being taught at school and vice versa.
What Are the Specific Skills Considered Important for SEL?
The collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has identified five core SEL competencies:
Self-Awareness: Having the ability to recognize your emotions, strengths, and challenges and how they all affect your behavior.
Self-Management: Being able to regulate your emotions and behaviors in different situations which is very important for impulse control, managing stress and in motivating yourself.
Social Awareness: Understanding and respecting the perspectives of others, and the ability to emphasize and interact with others from diverse cultures.
Relationship Skills: Learning to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with individuals and groups.
Responsible Decision Making: Simply being able to make choices that are good for you and for others.
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