How to Support Social Emotional Learning at Home
In this fast-paced world, teaching your children the importance of balance is more important than ever. It’s a fact that incorporating social-emotional learning (SEL) at home can yield fantastic results in and out of the classroom. Social-emotional learning can improve your child’s ability to regulate emotions and thoughts, which we know helps improve kids' outcomes.
One of the most significant benefits of social-emotional learning (SEL) is that it goes beyond academics and into core personal characteristics, self-confidence, motivation, and life-long wellness.
Here are five practices from my classroom that I’ve adjusted for use in your home:
Create a Calm Down Corner - Everyone has a bad day. Having a safe space to go where children can take a moment to feel and recognize their emotions is an important way to help them learn how to self-regulate. This corner should be stocked with soothing activities that your child reacts to. For example, they could draw or color a picture when they feel upset to help bring their emotions back down.
Take a break. A Dance Break! - What’s more joyful than dancing with your kids? If things get a little too serious in the house, turn on some music and bust a move. Find a song everyone likes and turn it up. Dance Breaks are active pauses that promote learning while providing creativity, leadership, and bonding among children and adults.
Write in a daily journal - Everyone should be journaling, not just your kids. Using a journal helps process emotions and develop better conflict-resolution techniques. Make time for journaling in your family. It provides a safe outlet for thoughts and feelings. Maybe the whole family can keep their journals in the Calm Down Corner? :)
Make time for art - By creating visually appealing self-expression projects, children ensure that their creativity is communicated. Having a tangible finished product they are proud of and can “show off” also helps them develop higher self-esteem. Furthermore, suppose the art project is created as a community project (home holiday decorations, etc. In that case, it will also help the child develop a sense of participation and pride in themselves and the family unit as a whole.
Support positive body image - self-love and self-esteem are so important for young people. When discussing body image with children, it is important to stress what is healthy. When it comes to physical activity and nutrition, children should not have goals of losing weight or cutting calories (Unless directed by a doctor). Instead, focus on healthy cooking, clean eating, and the benefits of physical and mental fitness.
About the Author
Hello, I’m Kevin Asher Karnes. I’m a certified English Language Arts and Career and Technical Education teacher at Polytechnic Senior High School in Fort Worth, Texas. I teach beginning to advanced level courses for children in grades 9 thru 12.
As a teacher, my goal is to help my students develop intellectually, socially, and emotionally. I design my lessons to accommodate all learning styles and strive to maintain a safe classroom environment that encourages curiosity, risk-taking, and the sharing of ideas.
In addition to managing my classes, I’m the assistant chair of my department, the sponsor of the Content Creator’s Club, a Junior Achievement International Educator, and an ESL and TEFL certified tutor for English learners.
I hold a BA in Economics and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, both from the University of Massachusetts. I’m a highly qualified teacher in the state of Texas, certified in English Language Arts and Reading Grades 7 - 12, Hospitality, Nutrition, and Food Science Grades 8 - 12, and English as a Second Language Grades 7 - 12.
In my free time, I enjoy photography, downhill skiing, and cooking with friends.