Young children absorb information about the world through play, observation, and experiences. Preschool-aged children learn essential kindergarten-readiness skills like math, science, and literacy by engaging in age-appropriate educational activities.
But it’s not enough to just give kids a solid foundation of reading, math, and science skills. Being ready for kindergarten–and life in general–means learning to be a respectful community member, good friend, and caring human being.
Social-emotional skills are a core aspect of a high-quality preschool program. Children who develop social and emotional competence typically have better outcomes throughout school and in other areas of life.
This article will outline the importance of focusing on your child’s social and emotional development during the preschool years. You will learn how early learning programs can help your child learn social-emotional skills and what you can do to support this learning at home.
Reach out to the dedicated educators at New Horizons now to learn about our early childhood education programs. We are happy to answer your questions or help you set up a tour of our incredible learning center.
What is Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)?
Social-emotional development means learning skills to help you function well in social interactions. Some core social-emotional skills include:
- Recognizing social cues
- Identifying others’ emotions
- Self-regulation
Good social-emotional skills can help people establish and maintain positive relationships with others. These skills allow people to compromise and work together to solve problems.
Healthy social-emotional skills are the foundation of a functioning community. This type of learning begins in infancy and continues throughout a person’s life.
Why are Social-Emotional Skills Important in Preschool?
Healthy social-emotional skills support healthy relationships, collaboration, academic success, and positive behaviors. Many preschool programs follow an evidence-based curriculum that supports children’s academic, social, and emotional wellness.
Children begin to recognize that they are part of a community at a young age. It is crucial to teach preschool-aged children social-emotional skills so that they can develop them throughout childhood.
Teaching SEL in preschool typically doesn’t happen with drills or memorization. Instead, experienced teachers create age-appropriate activities that reinforce these concepts.
Some examples of preschool SEL may include:
- Following a consistent classroom routine to help children anticipate what will happen throughout the day
- Having circle time to check in with each student’s feelings each day
- Encouraging empathy by using words to describe emotions
- Teaching children what words to use when solving problems, joining a group, navigating conflict, etc.
Preschool teachers don’t just teach social-emotional skills through activities. They also model healthy relationships, empathy, and problem-solving in everyday interactions.
Supporting SEL in the Classroom and at Home
Teachers, parents, and caregivers collaborate for the academic, social, and emotional success of all children. Social-emotional learning can happen in the home, school, and community.
Here are some of the ways teachers and parents can support children’s social-emotional development at home or in the preschool classroom.
Team games
Young children think about their own needs first. This is developmentally appropriate and expected. However, you can encourage your child to begin thinking about others around them by playing games that require teamwork.
There are several great collaborative board games on the market. You can also set up an obstacle course, puzzle, or scavenger hunt that requires kids to work together to reach a goal.
Intentional duos
Very young children can benefit from spending time with just one other child. In the classroom, teachers can pair up children and give them a small task to accomplish. This might include finishing a simple puzzle, zipping up each other’s jackets, building a block tower, etc.
At home, parents can set up playdates with a friend from the neighborhood or school. Or, they can pair up siblings and provide simple challenges or activities.
Stories
Read stories that focus on conflict resolution, emotions, problem-solving, and other social-emotional topics. Ask your child questions like “How do you think he/she feels?” and “What would you do if you next?”
Use these opportunities to talk about feelings. You can share your own stories about feeling scared, excited, sad, or lonely, too. Talk about what you did to manage your emotions during those times.
Role-playing
Role-playing is a great way to help young children build a solid social-emotional vocabulary. Act out common scenarios, like asking a friend to play or asking for a turn with a toy. Model the appropriate words to use in these situations and let your child practice.
Breathing exercises
Teach your children some simple breathing exercises they can use when feeling angry, anxious, or excited. Pretending to blow up a giant balloon or blowing out candles on a birthday cake are fun, effective ways for children to learn this skill.
Share the work
Give young children jobs in the classroom or at home. This can help children feel included in the community and take pride in their ability to contribute.
Make sure these jobs are age-appropriate. Some ideas include:
- Helping to erase chalkboards or whiteboards
- Sorting laundry by color
- Washing windows
- Putting napkins on the table at snack or lunchtime
- Watering plants
- Stacking books
- Putting away toys
Children often take pride in feeling like they are helping others. This can encourage them to recognize that working together is essential.
Including these and other social-emotional activities can help your child develop these critical skills.
Find a Preschool Now
At New Horizons, we know that a child’s social and emotional development is essential to their academic performance and personal happiness throughout life. Our thoughtful early learning programs focus on helping children develop all the skills they need to be successful in kindergarten and beyond.
Reach out to the New Horizons educators now to learn more about our programs or to schedule a tour. We look forward to meeting you and your family soon!
