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Activity to promote diversity:
Cultural show and tell - this activity allows students to identify similarities and differences between their own culture and another students'

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This book encourages children to give their time and their hearts to others and recommends offering a smile and a greeting as the first step in establishing lasting friendships.

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But unlike many adults, it can be difficult for children to recognize and understand emotions in themselves and others without adult support. The process of calming down when upset and using words to describe feelings and address challenges requires a lot of practice. It also requires a lot of adult support. When adults provide support and explanations, it helps children understand what they can do to manage their feelings. Children who learn how to understand emotions in themselves and others are better able to regulate their own responses to strong emotions.

Helping children to identify and label emotions is an important first step. Many preschoolers do not yet have the vocabulary to identify feeling words like angry or frustrated, or have the skills to "read" facial cues or to interpret body language. Adults support children's social-emotional development when they label and talk about emotions.

Support children's emotional understanding:

Ask children how they feel and notice children's feelings throughout the day. For example, when a child has a concern or problem, ask questions or make comments like, "How are you feeling? or "It looks like you might be feeling sad about something."

Talk with children throughout the day about emotions. For example, when reading books to children, label the characters' emotions and point out the facial expression and body language of the characters in books.

Talk about how you are feeling during the day in appropriate ways. For example, "I am feeling happy today because today we are going on our field trip!" or "I am feeling sad today because I had to take my sick dog to the vet." Direct children to look at your facial expressions and body language as you say, "How can you tell I'm feeling happy today?"

Talk about how people might feel in different situations to help children understand the different contexts of feelings and that all people have feelings. For example, when reading books or talking with children about their own lives, ask questions like, "Why do you think she felt that way? How could you tell she was feeling sad?"

Label and define feelings for children when they do not have the words to express how they are feeling. For example, "It looks like you might be concerned that you won't get a turn on the swings today. That feeling is called worried. Let's figure out a plan to help you with the problem if you are feeling worried."

When children experience strong emotions, it's important for adults to support their efforts to calm down so they will be better able to talk about how they are feeling. After children learn how to calm down and talk about how they are feeling, they can then begin to problem solve. When children are able to problem solve challenges, they are better able to focus on tasks, to learn, to form friendships and to navigate social situations. Talking about problems and how to solve them helps children develop more flexible thinking, and helps them to think about different ways to solve a problem. As children are able to better problem solve on their own it helps build their confidence and sense of "I can do it!" attitude.

Support children's self-regulation and problem-solving skills:

Help children when they need to calm down. For example, when it looks like a child is beginning to get upset say, "It looks like this is a good time to calm down. Let's take a deep breath together."

Help children frame how they are feeling so that they can talk about the problem. For example, after a child has calmed down, reinforce feeling talk and problem-solving talk by saying, "You took a breath and calmed down, now you can say how you are feeling and what the problem is. Then we can figure out how to solve the problem."

Model feeling talk and problem solving throughout the day. For example, "I think I need to take a deep breath and calm down. I'm feeling frustrated because I can't find the book I was going to read to you. I'll have to think where I put it. I had it when I walked over to the book nook. If I walk over there, maybe I'll find it."

Encourage children to share their feelings with each other. For example, when problems arise, encourage children to talk with each other about their feelings and about the problem. This process helps children label their feelings so that they can calm down, talk about a problem and talk about a solution to the problem.

Help children make the connection that all feelings are ok, but not all behaviors are ok. For example, "It is ok to feel frustrated when you have to wait your turn for your favorite center. It is not ok to push your friend."

Be a cheerleader for children when they are problem solving! For example, "Tamara, you calmed down and told Jeremiah how you were feeling. Then you talked to Jeremiah about how to solve the problem so you could both play with the blocks. You were both great problem solvers!" Be specific when offering praise to children about their problem-solving efforts.

Helping children develop emotional understanding requires repeated and intentional practice. Adults support children's development when they help children identify, label and talk about emotions, and when they support children's efforts around problem solving.
References:

Bierman K., C. Domitrovich, R. Nix, S. Gest, J. Welsh, M. Greenberg, C. Blair, K. Nelson, and S. Gill. 2008. "Promoting academic and social-emotional school readiness: The Head Start REDI Program." Child Development 79: 1802-1817.

Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning

Domitrovich, C., M. Greenberg, C. Kusche, and R. Cortez. 1999. Manual for the Preschool PATHS Curriculum. Channing-Bete Company.

Ursache, A., C. Blair, and C. Raver. 2012. "The Promotion of Self-Regulation as a Means of Enhancing School Readiness and Early Achievement in Children at Risk for School Failure." Child Development Perspectives 6: 122-128.

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Talking with preschoolers about emotions (Better Kid Care)

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Just like adults, children need to develop strategies for managing their emotions, so that they can build social-emotional skills. When children are more socially and emotionally aware and skilled, they can more effectively navigate relationships, calm down and problem solve when challenges arise.

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Practical Strategies for Teaching Social Emotional Skills

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This book is an example of a tool that can be used to teach and meet these standards, because it's a book that celebrates our differences (16.2 PKB)

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Fun Social-Emotional Activities for Preschoolers

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These social-emotional activities for preschoolers are simple and fun, and will build social skills and emotional intelligence through play.

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Resource on how Social and Emotional Development Grows With Age

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Resource on how Social and Emotional Development Grows With Age

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What Are Social-Emotional Skills?

Social-emotional skills are essential for connecting with others! They help us manage our emotions, build healthy relationships, and feel empathy.

Some examples of social-emotional skills in use are:

Recognizing if someone is sad, and asking if they're ok

Expressing yourself with your friends in a different way than with your parents

Understanding your thoughts and feelings, and being able to relate to others

While these skills may sound complex, social and emotional development begins at a very young age.

Watch to see more about baby's social-emotional development:

Social-Emotional Skills: Know the Basics

When does social and emotional development begin?

Babies start learning these skills from birth! As soon as they begin interacting with the people who care for them, they begin to develop an understanding of feelings.

How do parents impact social-emotional development?

Parents help to nurture social-emotional skills so kids develop healthy relationships with friends and family members. Even as a baby, your little one is picking up on how you respond to their social and emotional needs. They feel safe at home and in your presence. They learn how to empathize, respond to the emotions of others, and say "I'm sorry" by following your lead.

What do social-emotional skills help kids do?

Kids with healthy social-emotional skills are more likely succeed in school, work, and life. Social-emotional skills help kids:

Make friends and keep friendships

Gain confidence

Resolve conflicts

Manage stress and anxiety

Learn social norms

Make appropriate decisions

Resist negative social pressure

Learn strengths and weaknesses

Gain awareness of what others are feeling

How long does it take to develop social-emotional skills?

Social-emotional growth takes time. Early experiences with family, caregivers, and peers greatly impact social and emotional development, but throughout our lives we will continue to be shaped by our experiences! These experiences can include meeting new people, overcoming difficult situations, or even raising children.

Social-Emotional Abilities

Is your child meeting their social-emotional abilities?

Be on the lookout for these abilities as your child grows. They are encouraging signs that your child is making progress in their social and emotional development.

Developing social-emotional skills can boost your child's confidence and help them succeed in school, work, and life.

Missing one or two abilities should not cause alarm, as every child develops differently. However, if they are missing multiple abilities, be sure to talk with your healthcare provider.

Social-Emotional Tips

What you can do to help your child's social-emotional development

Be a model of the emotions and behaviors you want your child to show. You are your child's first teacher and they look up to you as a role model.

Be responsive to your child's emotions and behaviors. Responding will help to develop trust between you and your child.

Ask open-ended questions, such as "What would you do?" to help develop problem-solving skills.

Use stories to talk to your child about different social situations and how each person might be feeling.

Encourage kids to try new things and learn how much they can do.

Play games to teach kids how to take turns, win and lose, share, and negotiate. Ask yourself these questions when choosing a game for family game night.

Ask your child questions when they are upset. These questions can be about why they are upset, or offering alternatives to understand the root of their unhappiness. For example, "Would you like to brush your teet h or take a bath first?"

Sit with your child when using a screen (not recommended before 18 months) and make it a social activity, e.g. asking them questions or playing turn-taking games.

Social-Emotional Activities

What to Watch For

How to address social-emotional issues and delays

The sooner your child receives help in developing their social-emotional skills, the better off their health and well-being will be. Your healthcare provider may be able to help you address the issue or refer you someone who can help.

Here are a few examples of specialists who may be able to help your child:

Child psychologist

Social worker

Neuropsychologist

Psychiatrist

Occupational therapist

Speech-language pathologist

Developmental and behavioral pediatrician

Visit Understood.org or Child Mind Institute for more information and resources on social-emotional development.

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What Are Social-Emotional Skills? | Child Development Skills

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Learn how develping social-emotional skills help us manage emotions, build healthy relationships, and show empathy and understanding.

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Three friends learn how they can use mindful breathing to feel calmer, happier, and more confident.

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Identify similaritiesand differences between self and others.

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This book on mindfulness for children helps readers build their emotional awareness, enjoy pleasant feelings, and remember that unpleasant ones will pass.

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Activities that can stimulate this development:
-Roleplay: dress up, can experiment with different roles in society
-Puppets: can get creative with different personas for each character
-Sports: build teamwork skills

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Interpret the consequences of choices.

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Recognize there are socially acceptable ways to behave in different places.

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Distinguish between emotions and identify socially accepted ways to express them.

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Actively engage in assisting others when
appropriate.

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16.2 PKB
Identify similarities and differences between self and others

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Recognize that everyone has personal traits which guide behavior and choices.

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16.1 PKA
Distinguish between emotions and identify socially accepted ways to express them.