What is Social-Emotional Learning?

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process of developing the skills needed to understand and manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and make responsible decisions. It helps children learn to recognise their feelings, work with others, and act in ways that are kind and thoughtful. These skills are essential for personal well-being and success in daily life, particularly during the early years of childhood when foundational learning takes place.

SEL is especially relevant in early years settings like nurseries and reception classes. At this stage, children are starting to engage socially with peers, teachers, and caregivers, making it a perfect time to nurture these critical skills.

The Core Areas of Social-Emotional Learning

SEL can be divided into five main areas, sometimes called “competencies.”

1. Self-Awareness

This involves recognising one’s own emotions and understanding how they affect behaviour. For young children, this could mean learning to identify feelings like happiness, sadness, or anger. Teaching self-awareness might include activities where children label emotions using face charts or describe how they feel during specific situations.

2. Self-Management

Self-management is about learning to control emotions and behaviours. For example, a child may feel angry if their turn is skipped in a game. Self-management helps them learn to calm down and wait patiently instead of reacting aggressively. Techniques like breathing exercises or mindfulness can help children develop this skill.

3. Social Awareness

Social awareness means understanding the feelings and needs of others. In a nursery, this may be as simple as helping a friend who is upset or noticing when someone is left out of play. Role-playing activities or reading books about empathy can encourage children to think about others’ perspectives.

4. Relationship Skills

This covers the ability to build and maintain healthy relationships. For young children, this could mean learning to share toys, take turns, or resolve conflicts peacefully. Activities such as cooperative games teach teamwork and encourage positive interactions.

5. Responsible Decision-Making

This skill involves making thoughtful and safe choices. Early years children begin to weigh up options and consider other people’s feelings when deciding what to do. For example, they might learn to ask before taking a toy instead of grabbing it. Practising decision-making through simple games or stories can be highly beneficial.

Why is Social-Emotional Learning Important?

Social-emotional skills form the foundation for learning in other areas, including academic achievements, behaviour, and long-term mental health. Without these skills, children may struggle to communicate effectively, manage stress, or build strong friendships. SEL prepares them for life by teaching core abilities that they will use at home, in school, and beyond.

How SEL Benefits Children

Developing social-emotional skills has clear benefits:

• Improved Behaviour: Children who can regulate their emotions are less likely to act out through tantrums or aggressive behaviour. They learn how to express feelings in appropriate ways.
• Positive Relationships: By understanding and respecting others’ feelings, children can build strong, lasting friendships.
• Better Communication: Children who practise SEL are better able to articulate their needs and thoughts, which leads to fewer misunderstandings and conflicts.
• Greater Resilience: When children learn to manage emotions like disappointment or frustration, they become more capable of bouncing back from challenges.
• Enhanced Academic Performance: A relaxed and emotionally aware child is more likely to focus and participate actively in learning.

How Do Practitioners Teach Social-Emotional Learning?

SEL isn’t a stand-alone subject. Instead, it’s embedded into everyday routines, activities, and interactions.

Modelling Positive Behaviours

Practitioners often model SEL skills themselves. For instance, they might show children how to express frustration calmly or how to comfort someone who is upset. By observing trusted adults, children learn these behaviours and begin to imitate them.

Storytelling and Role Play

Stories are a powerful way to introduce emotions and social situations. Reading a book about a character feeling lonely can open up conversations about what loneliness feels like and how to help a friend in need. Role-playing gives children the chance to rehearse their responses to scenarios they might encounter.

Structured Activities

Activities such as “emotion sorting,” where children sort pictures of faces into categories like happy, sad, or angry, help build emotional vocabulary. Group games that require teamwork encourage cooperation and problem-solving.

Supportive Environment

Creating a nurturing environment fosters SEL development. Practitioners encourage kindness and mutual respect. For example, a practitioner might establish a rule that everyone takes turns to speak during group discussions, promoting listening skills.

Managing Conflict Peacefully

When disputes arise, early years practitioners use them as learning opportunities. Instead of punishing a child for grabbing a toy, they help the children involved talk about the issue. This approach teaches children to communicate their needs and resolve disagreements calmly.

The Role of Play in Social-Emotional Learning

Play is one of the most effective ways for young children to develop social-emotional skills. During play, children practise sharing, negotiating, and taking other people’s views into account. For instance:

• Pretend Play: Acting out roles, such as playing “families” or “shops,” helps children explore emotions and practice problem-solving.
• Group Games: Activities like building a tower together with blocks encourage cooperation and patience.
• Free Play: Allowing children to play unsupervised (but with adult oversight for safety) gives them the chance to apply SEL skills independently.

The Role of Parents in Social-Emotional Learning

Parents are a key part of a child’s SEL journey. Practitioners often work closely with families to reinforce SEL at home. Parents can support SEL by:

• Talking about emotions: Use everyday moments to discuss feelings. For instance, saying, “You seem upset because your sibling took your toy. Let’s talk about what to do.”
• Encouraging friendships: Set up playdates or activities where children can practice making friends.
• Praising effort: Positive reinforcement, such as praising a child for taking turns or being patient, builds confidence.

Challenges in Teaching SEL

Teaching SEL can sometimes be challenging, especially in the early years. Young children may not yet have the language to express how they feel, which can lead to misunderstandings. Similarly, some children might face barriers due to additional needs or language differences. Practitioners need to adapt their approaches to meet the unique needs of each child.

To address these challenges:

• Use visuals to help children understand emotions.
• Introduce strategies like “calm-down corners” where children can take a break when feeling overwhelmed.
• Offer one-to-one support where necessary.

SEL in a Multi-Cultural Setting

In diverse early years settings, children may come from different cultural backgrounds with varying approaches to expressing emotions. Practitioners need to be aware of these differences and create an inclusive environment where all families feel respected.

For example, in some cultures, children may be discouraged from openly expressing negative emotions. Practitioners can still encourage SEL by focusing on universal behaviours, such as treating others with kindness, even if the way emotions are expressed differs.

The Long-Term Impact of Social-Emotional Learning

SEL doesn’t stop being important after the early years. The skills children develop form the basis for their behaviour throughout life. Research suggests that children with strong social-emotional skills are more likely to succeed in school, form healthy relationships, and enjoy better mental health as adults.

By teaching SEL early, we set children up for a lifetime of emotional intelligence, adaptability, and empathy. For example:

• A child who learns to manage anger at the age of three might grow into a teenager who handles stress constructively.
• A child who practises teamwork during group play might become an adult who works well with colleagues.

How Practitioners Can Keep Developing SEL Strategies

Practitioners benefit from training and professional development to stay current in their approaches to SEL. Reflecting on their own practice helps them improve their ability to teach these skills. Collaborating with other professionals can introduce fresh ideas that enrich the learning environment.

Final Thoughts

Social-Emotional Learning provides children with key life skills, such as self-awareness, empathy, and decision-making abilities. Teaching these skills in the early years creates a strong foundation for children to thrive. By integrating SEL into play, daily routines, and family partnerships, practitioners can make a lasting difference in children’s lives.