How to work on socio-emotional development of a child?

Social emotional learning and development of children influences the self-confidence, empathy quotient, and their overall development. Parents are primary caregivers who play the biggest role in the development as these are consistent relationships in a child’s life. Most children spend 1/3rd of their day at schools and learn different behaviours, discover their emotions, and create lasting relationships here. This makes the positive social and emotional development of a child the responsibility of the school and the teacher to a large extent. Socio emotional development consists of children understanding who they are, recognizing their feelings, and learning about their interactions with others. It includes formulation of positive relationships, managing emotions, and engaging with their environment.
 
The following 3 areas can be focused on while working on the socio-emotional development of a child:
 

1. Watch & Learn

Children learn a lot from observing their environment. If a student sees a teacher or peer expressing gratitude, helping one another, and sharing feelings openly, it helps create an understanding of how to interact with people outside of the classroom. Simple things like saying please and thank you to children in the classroom demonstrates appropriate behaviour.
 

2. Positive reinforcement of good behaviour

Rewarding good behaviour with a positive word plays an important role in developing a child's socio-emotional skills. It helps to create a positive environment where children feel open to share their feelings, become more thoughtful of their behaviour and in turn more responsible.
 

3. Empathy

Asking children about their feelings, encouraging them to understand how other people feel, asking them how they would respond to certain situations will help children understand how their actions can impact the emotions of those around them.
 
To be able to work on the above 3 areas, it is important for teachers to first get trained on the same. Investing in good teacher training workshops helps teachers stay abreast with changes that are taking place in the classrooms. Today's schools are increasingly multicultural and multilingual with students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Educators work with students with different motivation levels for engaging in learning, behaving positively, and performing academically. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) aims to provide a foundation for safe and positive learning, enhancing the students' ability to succeed in school, career, and life. SEL is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, demonstrate empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
 
These online teacher training programs should be conducted for k-12 teachers, coordinators, school leaders, special educators and school counsellors on a regular basis. A teacher working on her/his own socio-emotional skills will be able to contribute to the socio-emotional development of a child more effectively. The online teacher training program offered by Aditya Birla Education Academy on SEL in the classroom focuses on the following areas:
 

• Increase educators’ awareness, knowledge, and skills regarding Social and Emotional Learnin
• Promote collaboration between educators, community and family to address the Social and Emotional Learning competencies of all students
• Enhance knowledge of educational practices that promote Social and Emotional Learning
• Provide tools and resources to educators to help improve students’ Social and Emotional skills

 
 
To know more about these programs, please write to abea.admissions@abet.co.in or call on +91 8424061377.
 
Also read,
https://www.abea.in/blog-social-science-rote-learning-of-facts-or-building-global-competencies
https://www.abea.in/blog-addressing-the-emotional-and-social-needs-of-gifted-students
https://www.abea.in/blog-creating-engaging-learning-environment-teachers-matter