How Can You, as a Parent, Support Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) At Home?
(from SOS4Students coach Kelsi)
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is the umbrella term used to describe lessons that focus on identifying student feelings, teaching coping strategies, rehearsing problem-solving, and integrating mindfulness into the learning space.
While SEL is mainly a school-centric approach, there are many things families can do to support SEL at home. Here are some ideas:
Have Meaningful Check-Ins
You can provoke further conversation with your student by adjusting the types of questions you ask. Rather than asking “How was school?” try specific questions such as:
- What was the best part of your day?
- Who did you sit with at lunch?
- What part of your day was hard?
- What can I do to support you with ______?
Help Your Student Prioritize and Problem Solve
Now that they are back in school, students are struggling to readjust to in-person expectations. Many were shocked at how quickly their workloads filled up with large projects and tests. Your students may need check-ins and reminders that prioritizing will help them get their work done in an efficient manner.
Ask questions such as:
- What is due first?
- What will take you the most time?
- When do you have time to work on that?
Asking guiding questions while encouraging your student to do the actual planning is the best way to coach this skill so your student can internalize it.
Model Coping Strategies
When you notice your student is stressed and overwhelmed, gently point it out and pair it with a coping strategy. Acknowledging how your student is feeling is powerful validation and an opportunity to model or practice coping strategies together.
- This might sound like “I’m noticing that you may be stressed. When I’m feeling stressed, I find it helpful to take a walk. Would you like to take one together?”
How Can We Help?
If you have questions about SEL and how SOS4Students can help, contact us at (510) 531-4767 or .