Activities for Building Social and Emotional Skills in Kids

Shirley lay crouched under her desk for the last seven minutes, sobbing bitterly, with her pencil popped between her lips. Now, this young child was aged just about five. When a few of her classmates enquired about her cause for anxiety, she offered them a blank stare and continued weeping! Soon, her English teacher, Mrs. Rebecca Khan, walked into the class.

And, raised an eyebrow when she noticed Shirley bent under her desk.

Mrs. Khan approached Shirley, gently patted her back and asked her what the matter was.

This time, however, Shirley responded, “Ma’am, I have lost my English textbook and eraser!” Immediately, her teacher hugged her, asking her politely if she remembered where she had placed her textbook for the last time.

Next, she fished into her drawer and took out a spare eraser, offering it to a seemingly heartbroken Shirley who continued shedding tears…

Why must Teachers Build Social and Emotional Skills in Kids?

Shirley is one of those kids who wrestle with their emotions, especially when they are within learning spaces. For, it is such places that they miss the close proximity of their family or near and dear ones. Here, they are in the presence of their peers, teachers, and the school staff, who are yet to be acquainted with their behavioral patterns and psychology.

Obviously, such alien circumstances are responsible for giving birth to stress in their innocent hearts that beat amidst diverse emotions!

And, when youngsters are unable to control the reigns of their emotions, they automatically start withdrawing into a shell, losing touch with their fellow classmates despite being surrounded by them. Eventually, they fail to interact and communicate freely with their peers as well as their teachers that adversely impacts their personal and academic growth.

This probably is one of the main reasons why educators must strive to impart social skills to students.

Speaking of social skills, teachers must see to it that students don’t lag behind in terms of their emotional aptitude as well. They must be aware of their emotions, and also some smart tactics to deal with, manage and curb them so as to maintain cordial relations with their peers and teachers.

How to Develop Social and Emotional Skills in Kids?

A generous quantity of patience, love, and care from the end of teachers is the need of the hour, to address the social and emotional issues of various students.

One must understand that the mind of young students is just like soft clay that is easily impressionable. So you got to be determined to teach them the right kind of skills and moral virtues in order to guide them in their personality development. You must always be ready to encourage them to proceed to the next step, once they have displayed progress in their very first endeavor.

Continue reading to unearth some of the top activities for building social and emotional skills in kids.

#1. Build Positive Relationships

Get to know your students well from the very first day of your classroom session.

Introduce yourself to them, and ask them their names. Next, you might prefer to ask them about their passions, their favorite subjects, favorite food, favorite movies and favorite holiday destination. Ask them about their experience of their first day at school, or their most memorable day.

In short, try your level best to extend your arm of friendship towards them, and trust me, you will not be disappointed.

Be a fantastic listener.

It would help develop the comfort level between you and your students, to a considerable extent. A good relationship between teachers and students would also ensure that students come up with an honest feedback for your lectures.

It just means that the next time, they stumble against certain learning challenges, they would not be reluctant to share them with you. Respect your students, and let them have a glimpse of your affectionate attitude!

#2. Make Social and Emotional Learning Compulsory

How many of your students have come to terms with social and emotional training in your class? I am quite certain a majority of your pupils are in love with those sessions.

But, if you aim to continue inspiring your students to absorb these skills naturally, you got to make your classes more interactive.

Keep talking about feelings, responsibilities and managing friendships with your students. If they confront with issues pertaining to their emotional requirements, explain to them about how they can be the master of their emotions, handling them in mature ways.

This would also make it possible for kids to enhance their problem-solving skills.

So, the next time they come across certain complications in their Math problems or Physics formulas, they would think twice before panicking. And proceed to learn their lessons with renewed strength and vigor.

Make the social and emotional learning sessions mandatory for your students!

#3. Aid in Building Self-Confidence

Self-confidence is among the most significant keys that possess the potential to catapult individuals to success and fame.

The famous American political activist and author, Helen Keller had once declared that nothing can be achieved without confidence and hope. If your students lack the confidence to score good grades in their exams, they would simply end up with mediocre grades.

On the other hand, if they are confident of their expertise in academics, they would simply attain brilliant grades thanks to their strong will power and diligence.

The good thing about self-confidence is that it is not just beneficial for academics.

Rather, a self-confident student is smart enough to participate in extra-curricular activities of his school including debates, discussions, quizzes, extempore contests and sports competitions. His dexterity is not restricted to the niche of education alone as he is sportingly exploring his talents in multiple avenues.

Therefore, teachers must encourage kids to be involved in various tasks and offer everybody a chance to take part in them so that they develop a great deal of self-confidence.

#4. Respect Differences among Your Students

A typical classroom comprises students hailing from culturally diverse backgrounds. Your students might represent different religions, caste, and communities! As a teacher, it is your duty to respect the differences that exist between your students, both in a group and even individually.

Recognize the differences, and most importantly, appreciate them.

Certain students might have certain individual requirements, especially the ones who belong to culturally diverse family backgrounds. Remember teachers, students can relate to you only if you understand their belief systems and their behavioral characteristics.

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When you exhibit signs of cultural tolerance, your students also learn to embrace diversity in all forms. Let your students talk about openly about their communities. While they do so, you would observe that certain differences are revealed about your learners.

They must be capable of dealing with such differences in an optimistic approach and refrain from criticizing the beliefs of their fellow classmates.

#5. Promote Emotional Awareness

Kids must be aware of their emotions prior to making attempts to deal with them!

But, the question arises, how can teachers assist children in noticing their own emotional states and reacting accordingly? Because, it is easier said than done, definitely. For instance, school teachers can instruct kids to observe their own body signals.

Next, they must describe elaborately the feelings that are associated with those body signals. Students must also be told to reflect upon their feelings and write about them in a journal.

Let me elucidate.

Let us say a particular student has scored miserable grades in her Math exam. Notice her emotions immediately after she discovers about her grades. If she wears a frown on her face or is biting her nails, it is a clear indication of ‘nervousness’. Now, if she is seated with a distracted countenance, with her palms on her cheeks, watch out dear teachers – for it is yet another indication of nervousness or anxiety.

#6. Teaching the Value of Compassion

Are your students compassionate towards others? Do they proceed forward to help their peers gather herself if any of them trips accidentally and falls down? How many of your students would share their notes with their classmates if some of them are absent during a particular lecture of yours?

If you can hardly count three or four students in your classroom who would display such behavioral signs, they really need to learn the moral virtues of compassion and kindness!

And, remember teachers, you cannot model empathy unless you start practicing it yourself within classroom scenarios.

For example, if a certain student has misplaced her study notes, help her locate them. Make an announcement in the class asking if anybody else in the class might have spotted them. Ask them to look for it into their school bags and check for them in their folders.

There is something more you can do to promote feelings of empathy.

While reading books before the class, ask students to discuss their feelings about the plot or characters. They can raise their hands and you can choose students randomly, and have them speak.

#7. Use Powerful Communication Skills

Always make it a point to request students for their feedback after a discussion or lecture session.

Make sure your students let you know if they understood whatever you might have been teaching them. Similarly, they must approach you with their uncertainties if they find certain portions of a chapter or certain definitions confusing. They should never be hesitant to share their problems with you, and got to ensure that!

In other words, they must exercise their non-verbal and verbal communication skills as much as they can.

You must model such behaviors yourself.

Inculcate in your students the knowledge of utilizing body language to communicate. One of the best ways you can do this is to make them participate in skits and theatrical plays. Notice how they enact the role of their characters.

Rectify their errors if they commit any, and they would instantly understand the significance of eye contact and body language for effective communication.

These are some of the best activities that you can try out if you desire to help your learners develop their social and emotional skills. Wishing you all the very best for your innovative ideas, dear teachers. I am sure your students would blossom into beautiful human beings enriched with a high emotional intelligence quotient and social skills.