What is social-emotional learning?

Social-emotional learning is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Social-emotional education is a guideline for primary prevention of risk behaviors.

Why is it so important?

Social-emotional skills are essential in teaching individuals how to engage with their entire world with more respect and understanding. Many risk behaviors such as drug use, violence, bullying, and teen pregnancy have been found to decrease with the use of social-emotional learning programming as a preventative method.

An effective program that helps develop social-emotional competencies, together with parent participation can help improve self-perception, perception of others, and perception of the environment, including educational centers. Developing an appreciation of the environment has a great impact on self-esteem and cognitive skills that promote learning while reducing emotional stress and problem behaviors. Social-emotional learning undoubtedly improves quality of life and the ability to succeed in school and beyond.