What is Social-Emotional Learning?

  • Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

    Socially and emotionally competent children and youth are self-aware, socially aware, able to regulate their emotions, have good relationship skills, and demonstrate responsible decision making at home, school and in the community.

    Social and Emotional Learning Wheel

    Self-Awareness

    The ability to accurately recognize one’s emotions and thoughts and their influence on behavior. This includes accurately assessing one’s strengths and limitations and possessing a well-grounded sense of confidence and optimism.

    • Identifying emotions
    • Accurate self-perception
    • Recognizing strengths
    • Self-confidence
    • Self-efficacy

    Self-Management

    The ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations. This includes managing stress, controlling impulses, motivating oneself, and setting and working toward achieving personal and academic goals.

    • Impulse control
    • Stress management
    • Self-discipline
    • Self-motivation
    • Goal setting
    • Organizational skills

    Social Awareness

    The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior, and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.

    • Perspective-taking
    • Empathy
    • Appreciating diversity
    • Respect for others

    Relationship Skills

    The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. This includes communicating clearly, listening actively, cooperating, resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating conflict constructively, and seeking and offering help when needed.

    • Communication
    • Teamwork
    • Relationship building
    • Social engagement

    Responsible Decision Making

    The ability to make constructive and respectful choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on consideration of ethical standards, safety concerns, social norms, the realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and the well-being of self and others.

    • Identifying problems
    • Analyzing solutions
    • Solving problems
    • Evaluating and reflecting
    • Ethical responsibility

    Source: https://casel.org/what-is-sel/