At Epic, we’re all about empowering kids to be their best. Whether it’s by fueling their curiosity, giving them a safe, fun place to explore or building confidence, we love helping them hone the skills and knowledge to lead healthy, happy, successful lives.
The skills we’re focusing on today aren’t as tangible as multiplication or learning how to spell, but they’re just as important: social-emotional skills. And they can be taught through SEL (social-emotional learning).
What is SEL?
SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) is how kids develop the self awareness, self control and interpersonal skills needed to become more empathetic, resilient and successful as people. Part of this process is learning how to understand and manage their emotions, as well as creating and maintaining positive relationships and bouncing back from setbacks to achieve their goals.
Why SEL is so important
SEL benefits kids throughout their lives and starts to positively shape them right away. This is especially true during these challenging times, when the COVID-19 pandemic has created so much disruption to their day-to-day routines.
According to Epic Master Teacher Felix Saji: “In the last couple of years, being a child was difficult. It was difficult for children to socialize because they were away from other children. They had to wear a mask and students endured school in ways that were brand new to them. SEL is important now because as “normalcy” in regards to daily life and education is coming about for children, students need to know how to react, socialize and manage their own emotions.
Teaching and practicing SEL skills helps students to adjust to “normalcy” and respond to the many challenges that come their way in school, [at] home and when they are with friends. These skills are important to learn now as these skills can help children as they get older as well.”
In other words, 2020 and 2021 were a lot, and kids need these tools more than ever to grapple with and make sense of all of the changes that have impacted their worlds.
4 Benefits of SEL
Positive Social Interactions
SEL promotes skills needed to maintain positive relationships with parents, teachers, siblings and peers—including turn taking, helping friends, healthy play and cooperation. By developing ways to cope during conflict and other challenging social situations, they’ll learn how to make good decisions, as well as to avoid and stand up to bullying.
Emotional Awareness
Kids experience a lot of big emotions that can be tough for them to understand. Having the ability to recognize those feelings in themselves gives them a greater ability to empathize with others. It also helps them understand how their own actions affect those around them.
Self-Regulation
When kids have the tools to calm down when they’re upset or excited, it gives them the ability to respond rather than react, and express their thoughts and feelings in socially appropriate ways. It also helps them persevere through difficult and frustrating situations.
Academic Achievement
Research shows that SEL paves the way for kids to focus on setting and reaching goals. It minimizes the likelihood of antisocial behavior, negative risk taking, anxiety, depression and other emotional obstacles that can prevent them from being their best. According to this Unesco report “…rigorous research has established that social and emotional competencies early in life—such as self-management skills in children five years of age—are better predictors of major young adult life outcomes such as health and financial success, than traditional academic metrics of grades and standardized test scores.”
This list just scratches the surface of the myriad of ways SEL strengthens kids. A big way you can fit more social and emotional development into their day to day is through books! So we’ve created these special collections, curated by grade level, designed to foster qualities of kindness, empathy, resilience and awareness in your child.
SEL Books on Epic
Want More?
Check out some great research on how kids benefit from SEL in this informative report. Families can also find some valuable tips on how to promote SEL at home here.
Are you an Educator?
Download this detailed, mindfulness-based curriculum for teaching kindness to preschoolers.
