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Did you know that more than half of the students in the United States struggle to be engaged with school lessons?
Distractions can make it difficult for students to concentrate, which impacts their learning.
If you want to help children grow intellectually, social-emotional learning is recommended.
Continue reading to discover some of the best social-emotional learning activities for kids, no matter what age they are!
1. Journal Time
One of the most effective social-emotional learning activities for kids is journal time.
Journals allow students to reflect on their thoughts, life, and emotions. You can use their journal entries as assignments that count towards writing grades while giving them an outlet. Journals are a great way for kids to get their emotions on paper and better cope with them.
You should encourage students to process emotions by writing real and hypothetical stories.
2. Daily Greetings
When students are acknowledged and appreciated, they are more likely to try harder in school and be happier.
A trending practice that teachers are doing is daily greetings. During the first week of school, establish a unique greeting with each of your students or the classroom. Having this greeting will help grow a bond with you and the student, along with their peers.
Have fun doing this and let your students practice together. This is a fun activity where they can get creative and make positive memories with their peers.
3. Classroom Meetings
Another activity that incorporates social-emotional learning is classroom meetings.
Classroom meetings are student-led and should focus on problem-solving. This activity will enhance communication for students and help them learn how to express their thoughts and emotions. This also provides more opportunities for students to learn about others and process feelings.
4. Talk About Emotions With Examples
By using books, videos, and songs, you can discuss emotions and how they impact development in children.
Not managing emotions can make it difficult for students to retain information and friendships. If emotional needs are not met, students are more likely to struggle in school. Discuss these scenarios through content that will engage and interest your students.
Another way to talk about emotions and their impact is by using real-life examples.
5. Give Simple Tasks
Tasking students with small projects or jobs help them develop self-esteem and trust with others.
Looking at SEL lessons for middle school can give you a better understanding of fulfilling tasks for students. Depending on their age and development, they might want a more specific or challenging task to work on. Leading the classroom line, feeding the classroom pet, and writing the agenda on the board are all great examples of tasks that you can assign.
Try These Social-Emotional Learning Activities for Kids
Finding social-emotional learning activities for kids can be challenging if you don’t open your mind.
Teaching kids about self-awareness by discussing emotions and writing about them can be a great outlet for children. You can teach communication and help develop relationships by using meetings. They help build trust amongst peers.
Don’t be afraid to try something new to change up the routine and make students feel acknowledged.
Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about emotion management and building interpersonal skills for children!
