How often do you hear the word social emotional development?
What is social emotional development and is it important to develop that in our children and students?
Social emotional development consists of the child’s experience, expression, and management of emotions along with the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others (Cohen and others 2005).
We all experience emotions.
However we all express and experience emotions differently. The way we handle them depends on our skills.
Why should we teach children social emotional skills?
When someone has an outburst and turns to yelling, name calling or tantrums we tend to turn a blind eye and deaf ear towards them, we do not want to hear them! No one wants to be friends with someone like that!
When children experience an emotion they are trying to tell the adults in their lives something and they need help to say it.
Children can be taught how to express emotion appropriately so that they can get what they need without losing their friends.
In addition, by having social emotional skills children can recognize thoughts and feelings in themselves and others and can connect to others in a safe manner.
What can children gain by developing their social emotional skills?
Children whom develop their skills are known to:
Make friends and maintain friendships
Gain confidence
Resolve conflicts
Manage difficult emotions
Make appropriate decisions
Resist negative social pressure
Learn strengths and weaknesses
Gain awareness of what others and themselves are feeling
All this is vital for them to be successful contributing members in their classroom, at home and in their community. giving children these skills give them a great opportunity for success.
If Josh knows how to handle his emotions and not tantrum when he did not get the toy he wanted he will learn the skill of negotiation and build and maintain his relationships with his peers. Josh would also be happier with himself and feel more at ease.
How can we help children develop their skills?
- model- children are watching you all the time
- when you see children upset or excited talk to them about it-be responsive
- teach them to handle difficult emotions- give them concrete things that they can do
- when you get upset what do you say and how do you handle it- show children how you handle emotions appropriately
- use stories and games to teach important lessons- books teach may great lessons
- show your feelings and acknowledge theirs
- invite friends over and assist and model in play
Give the gift of success for your child and help them develop social emotional today!