What is social-emotional learning and Why It is Important for Kids?
What is social emotional learning and how is it essential for kids? In the past, children have been made to focus on getting good grades, working hard, and striving to succeed. While this was going on, some crucial things, like mental and emotional well-being, were not given due consideration. There has been a shift in the past few years.
As our country’s education system gains prominence, social-emotional learning is becoming increasingly prevalent. Are you curious about social-emotional learning? Here are a few reasons why social-emotional learning plays such an important role in a child’s holistic development.
Understanding What is Social Emotional Learning & How It Benefits Kids
Social-emotional learning equips children with essential life skills, such as decision-making, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. It enables them to navigate various social situations with confidence and resilience. It boosts academic performance through fewer behavioral issues, higher motivation, and engagement.
Social-emotional learning has long-term benefits for children, as it lays the foundation for healthy emotional development and mental well-being. It equips them with the skills necessary to handle stress, manage relationships, and make responsible choices. It prepares them for future challenges in both personal and professional spheres.
Now, for those who are still unsure about What is social emotional learning and how it benefits kids, we have elaborated below the five core competencies that this approach works on.
Self-Awareness
A person must understand how emotions affect and impact their behaviour to recognize emotions. As a result of self-awareness, one gains a greater sense of confidence in their abilities and brings more clarity in their lives.
Self-Management
It teaches how to effectively take control of one’s thoughts, emotions, and actions in different life situations. Self-management is also crucial to set and achieve the right goals.
Relationship Skills
A vital aspect of achieving overall success is developing a healthy relationship with people from diverse backgrounds. Social-emotional learning teaches the concept at its core. It helps children to become active listeners, communicate effectively, and resolve conflicts peacefully.
Social Awareness
Social awareness is basically about teaching children how to put themselves in the shoes of others. When they learn to do so, they become capable of looking at a situation from a different viewpoint. This is a crucial skill that teaches children the art of living peacefully in a multicultural environment.
Making Responsible Decisions
When children are exposed to social-emotional learning, they learn how to make constructive and ethical choices after factoring in all possible consequences and varied viewpoints. We have seen those children who receive social-emotional learning can be better equipped to manage stress and take responsible decisions. They are better academically and remain open to contributing positively to society. It helps them to build a healthy relationship with people. No wonder many educators and parents across the world have recently started taking this approach seriously and the positive behavioural changes they notice in children are pretty much impressive.
The Rising Need for Social Emotional Learning for Kids
Now you are well aware of social-emotional learning and what are the core skills it builds in kids. One may still ask why social-emotional learning is taking over as such an important aspect of the holistic development of children today. There is no doubt that the current economic climate is difficult for adults as well as children. There is a great deal of pressure and stress on children today, both socially and emotionally. A kid must be skillfully equipped to handle ups and downs in life if they are to be successful in life.
Children learn how to manage emotions tactfully through social-emotional learning since it teaches them how to identify their emotions and manage them efficiently. Having confidence, resilience, and success in life makes kids more successful.