Nurturing Your Child’s Social-Emotional Development
Back to School Edition
By Cori Gadomski
It is that time of the year, you likely have a couple weeks under your belt and are feeling the mixed bag of emotions that come with “Back to School’. While it can be a great time of excitement with a new set of routines, it can also cause exhaustion, stress, and anxiety for everyone involved. You are likely feeling it at the end of the day, when your child comes home to their place of comfort, they can let loose the emotions they haven’t been able to express all day. Holding the space for these big emotions can help them process the big events of the day. Social-emotional development is the key to how children navigate these emotions and develop resilience. As parents, you can be the guiding light.
Social-Emotional Development (SEL):
SEL is a child’s ability to feel, make sense of and manage their emotions, while doing it in a way that forms healthy relationships with others. This part of child development is just as important, and often more important than, the academic development. If a child’s emotions not regulated, they experience stress, lack of focus, and have troubles with the task at hand. Creating healthy relationships with others is a key part of social-emotional development, it provides support and opportunities for learning and growth. With emotional resiliency, children are better able to handle the challenges of life. They can bounce back with better results through effective communication, conflict resolution and better decision making.
Social Emotional Development at Home:
10 ways to help build your child’s Social-Emotional skills, according to Healthier Together, Alberta Health Services:
1. Name emotions.
When your child is feeling emotions help them identify the emotion by exploring them on the emotion wheel. Encourage them to identify beyond the inner circle of emotions, such as sad, happy, or bad. Identifying the emotion is the beginning to increasing emotional literacy.
2. Discuss your child’s strengths.
Your child builds resiliency through a strong sense of self. Recognising their strengths by discussing what they can do, what they enjoy, and where they excel are great ways to build resiliency.
3. Give them responsibilities.
Contributing helps children feel like they are part of a greater whole, or a community. With your child, figure out some contributions they can do around the house to increase their sense of pride and accomplishment.
4. Play.
Carving out time to play can contribute to the emotional well-being of children and youth. This can look a variety of different ways, whether it is physical, cognitive, imaginative, structured, or collaborative, it creates the space for children to explore, create and exercise decision making. This is where they learn and make sense of their emotional world. Join in, let them guide you through their lens and enjoy.
5. Help them accomplish their goals.
Discuss what goals they would like to work towards, give them smaller, more realistic steps of accomplishing their goals and support them to get there. This guided and supported approach helps them feel a sense of achievement, and safety, while modelling how to tackle big things.
6. Let them be part of the team.
Letting your child be part of the decision-making process helps them learn to think through choices and understand consequence. Allow them to make small decisions like picking out what they get to wear, plan the lunch menu, decide what park you go to or what to do on the weekend.
7. Teach stress-management strategies.
First identify the stress that they feel and how it shows up in their body, thoughts, or actions. Help them identify if the stress is productive, when it may be useful or not and how to use different approaches to managing stress, like physical activity, breath work, or body-awareness.
8. Guide problem solving.
When you child comes to you with problems, use this as a relevant and accessible time to talk about how to problem solve. Providing a space for your child to share their problems, ask questions, while gaining an understanding.
9. Reframe mistakes.
Also known as growth mindset. Knowing that your mind can grow and learn new things through this process creates a strong mentality and positive mindset. Sharing your personal mistakes, how you handled them and what you learned from your mistakes, is a great way to help your child understand. Switching this mindset helps your child’s resiliency to try new and challenging things with a sense of optimism.
10. Talk about SEL.
Social emotional learning is happening in schools throughout Canada. Reach out to school counsellors, teachers, and principals to see the language and programs being used to support your child. You are not alone! Seek professional help by contacting a counsellor, professional or doctor if needed.
As your child heads back to school, remember that their social-emotional development is just as important as their academic progress. By fostering their emotional intelligence, empathy, and resilience, you equip them with essential life skills. By offering support, open communication, and a nurturing environment, you empower them to thrive not only academically but also in their relationships and future endeavors. So, as the school year unfolds, be there for your child, helping them navigate the challenges and joys of social-emotional growth.
10 ways to build your child’s social emotional skills. 10 ways to build your child’s social emotional skills – Articles for families with children – Resources for families – Get the Latest – Healthier Together Schools. (n.d.). https://schools.healthiertogether.ca/en/get-the-latest/resources-for-families/articles-for-families-with-children/10-ways-to-build-your-childs-social-emotional-skills/