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Social emotional learning (SEL) helps children build self-awareness, empathy, and self-control. Mealtimes also play a role in SEL: sharing food, taking turns, and enjoying conversations help children practice patience, gratitude, and respect.

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Prenatal nutrition (folic acid, iron, healthy meals) supports brain growth that shapes later emotional skills.

Feeding interactions (breast-feeding, bottle-feeding) builds attachment and trust.

Toxic stress, poor nutrition, or food insecurity can harm long-term emotional health (Shonkoff et al., 2012)

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Milestones: Infants begin forming secure attachments, recognizing familiar caregivers, and expressing basic emotions such as joy, fear, and distress (Berk, 2018). Stranger anxiety and separation distress emerge, showing the growing importance of trusted relationships.

SEL Strategies: Responsive caregiving during feedings (eye contact, gentle words, soothing when upset) builds trust and emotional security (Shonkoff et al., 2012). Simple games like peek-a-boo help infants practice emotional expression and predictability.

Nutritional Link: Feeding routines themselves are early SEL lessons, babies learn that their needs will be met consistently, creating trust and regulation.

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Milestones: Preschoolers begin cooperative play, demonstrate empathy, and learn to take turns. They also start identifying and naming emotions with support (CASEL, 2023). At this stage, children experiment with problem-solving in social situations, like sharing toys or resolving conflicts.

SEL Strategies: Circle-time “feelings check-ins” using picture cards help children identify emotions. Puppet role-play allows them to practice empathy and social problem-solving.

Nutritional Link: Family-style dining encourages cooperation and patience. Children practice waiting for food, using polite words, and sharing space at the table; all of which strengthen SEL (Head Start ECLKC, 2022).

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Milestones: Children gain stronger emotional regulation, understand fairness and justice, and develop stable peer friendships. They also begin managing frustration and solving conflicts with greater independence (Berk, 2018).

SEL Strategies: Group projects build collaboration and conflict-resolution skills, while journaling about daily emotions encourages self-awareness.

Nutritional Link: Involvement in snack preparation or group cooking projects (e.g., making fruit salad) encourages responsibility, cooperation, and pride in contributing to the community. These activities connect emotional skills with practical, real-world teamwork (Murray et al., 2020).

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Berk, L. E. (2018). Development through the lifespan (7th ed.). Pearson.

CASEL. (2023). What is SEL?. Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/

Head Start Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center (ECLKC). (2022). Family style dining. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/nutrition/article/family-style-dining

Murray, D. W., Rosanbalm, K., Christopoulos, C., & Hamoudi, A. (2020). Self-regulation and toxic stress report 3: A comprehensive review of self-regulation interventions from birth through young adulthood. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Shonkoff, J. P., Garner, A. S., & Siegel, B. S. (2012). The lifelong effects of early childhood adversity and toxic stress. Pediatrics, 129(1), e232–e246.

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Social-Emotional Learning: What Is SEL and Why SEL Matters

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Healthy Foods for Kids | Go, Grow, Glow! | Fun Nutrition Song

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Self-regulation is the ability to manage emotions, behaviors, and attention in order to reach goals (Murray et al., 2020). It includes skills such as calming down when upset, waiting for a turn, or staying focused on a task.

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Emotional Regulation for Kids: S.O.N.A.R.

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A preschooler taking deep breaths when frustrated before trying again with a puzzle.

A child waiting patiently to serve themselves food during family-style dining.

An older student using journaling to process emotions after a conflict.

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Modeling Calm Responses: Teachers can show students how to pause, breathe, and speak calmly when upset.

Creating Calm-Down Spaces: A quiet corner with sensory tools, books, or visuals helps students practice calming strategies.

Scaffolding Goals: Teachers can break down big tasks into small steps, encouraging students to self-monitor progress and celebrate small wins.

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Social and emotional learning (SEL) begins in the home, where families serve as children’s first teachers. Daily routines such as mealtimes, reading together, and discussing feelings provide opportunities for children to practice self-awareness and self-regulation (CASEL, 2023). Parents can model healthy coping strategies, like deep breathing or naming emotions, which helps children learn how to manage stress and build resilience. When families create consistent routines and supportive environments, they strengthen the same SEL skills children are developing in school.

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Respond promptly to cries and provide comfort; this builds trust and early regulation.

Use gentle routines at feeding and bedtime to give structure.

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Read books about emotions together (e.g., The Color Monster) and talk about feelings.

Practice “name it to tame it”, encourage children to label feelings (“I feel sad/mad”) before responding.

Encourage patience during family meals (waiting for everyone before eating, using polite phrases).

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Involve children in meal prep or chores to teach responsibility and cooperation.

Teach calming strategies like belly breathing or counting to ten when upset.

Use family check-ins where everyone shares one good thing and one challenge from the day