Learn More
Understanding Social-Emotional Learning
Social and emotional skills are skills that help us manage emotions, build healthy relationships, set goals and make decisions. The process of developing these skills, attitudes and knowledge is referred to as social-emotional learning (SEL).
SEL targets six domains where knowledge and skills can be developed:
- identification and management of emotions
- stress management and coping
- positive motivation and perseverance
- healthy relationship skills
- self-awareness and sense of identity
- critical and creative thinking
These social and emotional skills have been shown to have a positive impact on academic achievement and on student social, behavioural and emotional wellness. They are foundational skills that help us thrive!
Watch these videos if you wish to find out more about these skills and discover why they are helpful in everyday life.
What is social-emotional learning?
Skills for students: What is social-emotional learning?
R/T 0.56
Speaker, Joyce Erogun
Social-emotional learning, also known as SEL, describes the process of developing and expanding certain skills and knowledge that help us to thrive.
For example, having the knowledge and ability to understand and manage our emotions, to develop and maintain good relationships, problem solve, and make responsible decisions are all aspects of SEL.
On Screen Why is SEL Important?
Not only does SEL support our ability to connect and understand ourselves, but learning these skills also help us to connect with and understand other people.
It’s also known to help students in their academics, but it goes beyond this!
When we’re more comfortable in ourselves and less stressed about our lives we deal with problems and challenges in a healthier way.
How your thoughts, emotions and behaviours work together
Identification and management of emotions
Skills for students: How your thoughts, emotions and behaviours work together
R/T 1.06
Speaker, Joyce Erogun
This area of SEL focuses on the connection between our emotions, thoughts, and behaviours.
The ability to identify our emotions helps us learn how to manage them and empathize with others.
This positively impacts the way we think and, in turn, how we behave and react in situations.
On Screen Why is this important for young people?
Speaker, Jamie, Student
This skill supports our ability to relate to others and properly express ourselves.
Being aware of your emotions helps you to understand yourself more – like knowing what makes you tick.
It’s a first step toward being able to control them and that’s useful when we connect with other people.
Speaker, Mackenzie, Student
On Screen How might this look in day to day life? When would these skills be helpful?
When something happens that makes you feel really emotional – it can feel overwhelming.
We have these moments with our friends, family, and other relationships.
For example, sometimes we lash out at people when we’re actually just tired or hungry.
Understanding how feel allows you to deal with that emotion so you can have a clear head to think and react appropriately.
Managing the stress you feel
Stress management and coping
Skills for Students: Managing the stress you feel
R/T .56
Speaker, Joyce Erogun
Life can be stressful and how we manage stress can either positively or negatively affect us.
There are strategies we can learn to help us identify and cope in stressful situations.
Speaker, Justin, Student
On Screen Why is this important to young people?
There are a lot of stressful things that young people go through on a daily basis inside
and out of school like exams, relationships, pressure about our future careers.
Stress can affect all aspects of our lives, even the way we act towards others.
It’s important for us to learn how to manage it so we can cope better when things come up
On Screen How might this look in day to day life? When would these skills be helpful?
Speaker, Mackenzie, Student
Having strategies to prioritize your commitments can stop you from feeling overwhelmed.
Discovering ways to help reduce stress like deep breathing or going for a run can help you to get through tougher times.
Persevering even when things are hard
Positive motivation and perseverance
Skills for students: Persevering even when things are hard
R/T 1 minute
Speaker, Joyce Erogun
There is much to be gained by maintaining a positive view.
This can mean seeing our mistakes as opportunities to learn, not giving up, and remaining optimistic.
It doesn’t mean that you feel happy all the time but that you have learned strategies to help you think differently about the ‘down’ times and see them as things that you can overcome.
On Screen Why is this important to young people?
Speaker, Mackenzie, Student
Mistakes and bad things happen but we can’t let that stop us from reaching our potential.
Obstacles and mistakes test us, but having a positive outlook helps us to persevere.
It’s vital in developing our minds as we mature.
On Screen How might this look in day to day life? When would these skills be helpful?
Speaker, Justin, Student
Things don’t always go as planned, like when you get a disappointing grade or lose a competition.
Finding out how you can improve after these events is an example of positive motivation and perseverance.
It helps to see these moments as a chance to grow instead of just a loss.
Having healthy relationships with others
Heathy relationships
Skills for students: Having healthy relationships with others
R/T 1.27
Speaker, Joyce Erogun
This area of SEL encourages the development of relationship skills that help us to have more positive interactions with the people in our lives.
Healthy relationships encourage a sense of belonging, inclusion and overall well-being.
These skills include communication, empathy, cooperation skills, conflict resolution, and many more.
Healthy relationships are not always conflict free, but we can learn the skills we need to deal with these more difficult relationships in a constructive way.
Speaker, Jamie, Student
On Screen Why Is this important for young people
It’s important to develop habits at a younger age so that when you grow up you can develop meaningful relationships as well.
Practicing your cooperation and conflict resolution skills now will help for the rest of your life.
Speaker, Justin, Student
On Screen How might this look in day to day life? When would these skills be helpful?
When you are having an issue with another person, at school or at work – this skill helps you to see the perspectives of others and understand their emotions.
This helps with creating a positive resolution.
For example, when you’re working in a group and someone has an idea that you don’t understand.
Instead of ignoring their suggestions, you can ask for clarification – now that person feels heard and the whole group has more clarity.
Speaker, Mackenzie, Student
Understanding how to develop and maintain healthy relationships also helps us notice signs of toxic relationships.
This can look like taking a step back to evaluate what your role is in a relationship, how you are being treated and dealing with the situation safely.
Discovering what makes you YOU!
Self-awareness and sense of identity
Skills for students: Discovering what makes you YOU!
R/T .59
Speaker, Joyce Erogun
We can see our full potential when we have a positive sense of who we are.
Being comfortable expressing our thoughts, feelings, and opinions and feeling like we matter promotes our ability to learn new things, explore our talents and strengths, and see ourselves more clearly.
On Screen Why is this important to young people?
Speaker, Jamie, Student
As a teenager, it’s hard to know who you are and to be confident in yourself.
Getting to know yourself allows you to live your own truth rather than what others want.
We’re all unique and have a lot to give.
This area of SEL helps us explore our strengths and gifts without second guessing ourselves.
On Screen how might this look in day to day life? When would these skills be helpful?
Speaker, Justin, Student
When you feel peer pressured to do something that does not sit well with you, you are better able to stand on your own.
Being confident with who you are stops you from falling into things that you wouldn’t naturally do.
Organizing your thoughts to help you
Critical and creative thinking (Executive functioning)
Skills for students: Organizing your thoughts to help you focus
R/T 0.53
Speaker, Joyce Erogun
Critical and creative thinking is something we do quite a bit at school. It’s when we set deadlines, make decisions, organize tasks, and complete work.
These skills all involve controlling our thoughts and emotions so we can focus and achieve our goals.
Speaker, Mackenzie, Student
On Screen Why is this important for young people
With the amount of distractions in our lives, it’s important to stop and think about what is important and decide how to react.
Speaker, Jamie, Student
On Screen How might this look in day to day life? When would these skills be helpful?
We do a lot of this already!
When we think about the consequences before we speak in heated situations, we increase our chance of a positive outcome.
This can be in an argument with a friend, an issue on a group project, or a problem with a co-worker.
Social-emotional learning skills for life
Closing statement
Skills for students: Social-emotional learning skills for life
R/T 0.43
Speaker, Justin, Student
On Screen Why is SEL Important for youth while at school and also helpful in life
You already practice many of these skills every day.
It’s important that we keep developing these skills as we mature and use them in the different places we end up like post secondary school, work, and adulthood.
Speaker, Jamie, Student
You may not remember everything you learn in school and may not use all of it in your future careers, but what you do take with you are life skills. That’s what SEL is all about.
Speaker, Mackenzie, Student
SEL is not just for people who need support now.
We all go through hard times so it’s so important that you learn skills that will help you thrive on your journey through life.