What is SEL?

Social and Emotional learning is the process through which children and adults acquire and apply effectively the knowledge, attitude, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships.Reference link:(www.casel.org/what-is-sel/)

Why should we teachSocial-Emotional skills in classrooms?

Teaching Socio-Emotional skills contributes immensely to creating a positive school environment and promotes increased academic success.Beyond immediate outcomes in the classroom, SEL prepares the learners to empathise, control impulses, manage emotions, communicate effectively and solve problems, in the course of time. Besides, as adults, these learners with an SEL backdrop, will have fewer behavioural and psychological issues; they will be able to establish and maintain positive relationships at work and elsewhere, later in life.

Introducing SEL Activities in Pre-primary

Introducing and practicing SEL in Pre-primary classes have a long lasting impact on every child’s life. Besides practicing self- awareness, social- awareness and self-regulation skills, the learners are also introduced to Relationship Management skills where they show empathy, cooperate, collaborate and engage in problem solving with their peers effortlessly.

Considering the benefits of SEL activities in classrooms, here are a few activities suggested for Pre-primary classes.

1. Under Self –awareness and for developing self-confidence in young learners, two songs: Special, special, special me and Special, special, special youcan be introduced.
2. Under Self-regulation,to activate the parts of the brain and help maintain self-control and register actions, Brain Hug activities are to be introduced. Here, the children repeat lines and do actions after the teacher.
3. Under Social skills, to develop eye contact and involve a sense of touch and to activate the brain,Different Handshakes can be introduced
4. For developing Social awareness, the existing Class Pyramid is to be used effectively.Here, the learners move up and down the pyramid basis the observable classroom behaviour.

When and where can we use these activities?

Adherence to the schedule suggested will benefit the learners and schools to the optimum levels.

Social skill

Different Handshakes

THUMB KISSING:All the children hold up their thumb and go up to each child and touch each other's thumbs and wish Good Morning.

HAND HUG:All the children hold up their palm and go up to each child, place their palm on the other’s palm and wish Good Morning.

DOUBLE HANDSHAKE:All the children cross their arms and go up to each child and shake their hands to wish Good Morning.

BUTTERFLY KISSING:All the children hold up their right thumb grab other’s right thumb and stick out their fingers and wriggle by moving in a circular motion.

SQUIRREL HANDSHAKE:All the children hold up their hand and run their fingers up like a squirrel on each other’s hand to wish Good Morning.

All the children hold up their hand and run their fingers up like a squirrel on each other’s hand to wish Good Morning.

The teacher plays a crucial role in all physical SEL scenarios as she engages with the learners and monitors effective execution of the activities. However, in an online scenario, the learners can follow the teacher and repeat the lines of actions of the songs. Parents can assume the role of a peer leaner for paired activities.

Editor- Mamatha Rao, Academics Team- REN schools.

Activities and images courtesy: Ms. Pratibha. K.S, Pre-primary Teacher, Tattva School.