Culture and Climate Programs

 

“Social emotional learning, or SEL, is the process of acquiring the competencies to 

recognize and manage emotions, develop caring and concern for others, establish 

positive relationships make responsible decisions, and handle challenging situations effectively.”

 

Children begin developing social and emotional skills from the day they are born. Much of this development comes through watching and learning from how others interact and respond. As a child encounters new individuals, they are placed in varying situations where they can practice managing their own emotions, empathizing with people and interacting positively or negatively with others. The importance of social and emotional development is seen in every area of a child's life.

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“Differences in social and emotional development result from a child's inborn temperament, cultural influences, disabilities, behaviors modeled by adults, the level of security felt in a child's relationships with adults, and the opportunities provided for social interaction.”

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Social and emotional skills (e.g., self-regulation, affection, empathy, conflict resolution) are just that...skills that can be taught either directly through implicit instructional practices or taught indirectly through interactions modeled by other individuals around them. When a child is given numerous opportunities to practice these skills within an ever-widening circle of individuals, a stronger social and emotional developmental foundation can be built, and they can navigate life’s ups and downs more effectively.

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