social and emotional learning

Changes in Childhood and Education

• Children spend less time in unsupervised leisure play and recess has become more supervised.
• There is a growing recognition that children may not simply outgrow problems, and that they need to be prepared to adapt to rapid changes in social conditions.

Importance of Soft Skills

• Self-awareness is crucial, including:
  • Identifying and recognizing emotions
  • Recognizing personal interests and strengths
  • Maintaining a well-grounded sense of self-confidence
• Self-management is essential, including:
  • Regulating emotions to handle stress
  • Controlling impulses
  • Motivating oneself to persevere in overcoming obstacles
  • Setting and monitoring progress toward personal and academic goals
  • Expressing emotions appropriately
• Social awareness is critical, including:
  • Taking the perspective of and empathizing with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures
  • Understanding social and ethical norms for behavior
  • Recognizing family, school, and community resources and supports
• Relationship skills are vital, including:
  • Establishing and maintaining healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups
  • Communicating clearly
  • Listening actively
  • Cooperating
  • Resisting inappropriate social pressure
  • Negotiating conflict constructively
  • Seeking and offering help when needed
• Responsible decision-making involves:
  • Making decisions based on a consideration of all relevant factors
  • Evaluating and reflecting on the likely consequences of taking alternative courses of action