Supporting Kids’ Social Emotional Development in the Summer
SEL Tips for the Summer:
Social Emotional Learning is the process of developing self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, self-management, and responsible decision making skills. Each of these skills is important for people to grow academically, socially as well as professionally. As a former third grade classroom teacher, I tried my very best to include social emotional learning practices into my students’ daily routine. Each day I tried to have a class meeting to give the kids the opportunity to share their feelings aloud. I also had a communication box in the classroom for students to leave written notes and anything and everything. Additionally, I also tried to incorporate mindfulness into daily classroom routines by doing brief deep breathing exercises as much as possible.
Create a Daily Schedule: Even though summer is more relaxed, a loose routine can help keep everyone on track and reduce chaos. At the very least, consistent sleep and eating schedules help maintain stability for both parents and children.
Have a Feelings Poster visible for kids to refer to: Giving kids the vocabulary to use to describe their feelings is very important. Oftentimes children don’t know how to express themselves appropriately. Having a visual for kids to reference is a great first step in promoting social emotional learning at home! Pick up your Feelings poster here!
Have a Calming Corner in the house for kids to access: Once kids are able to identify their emotions, it’s critical for them to have tools to use to regulate themselves and feel calm. Having a calming corner in the house is a great way to support kids’ emotional well-being. Some ideas to include in the calming corner are coloring books, deep breathing cards, bubbles, calm down menu, stress ball, and other fidgets to stimulate senses. Grab your already made calming corner kit here!
Encourage kids to practice deep breathing in the morning, evening, and anytime they have big feelings: Research has proven to us time and time again how valuable deep breathing can be to help people regulate their nervous system. Younger kids love creative ways to practice deep breathing by using animal breathing. Snag some deep breathing cards here!
4. Provide opportunities for kids to play games to practice social skills (sharing, taking turns, eye contact, listening, conversations): Playing games is a great way to have fun and practice social skills. Here are some games that support kids with practicing social skills!
5. Read books about identifying feelings/using coping skills: At school children are exposed to a variety of different books that teach important lessons. During the summer parents can take family trips to the library and check out books that help kids learn how to identify their emotions and use appropriate coping skills. Here are some suggested Social Emotional Books for the summer!
Looking for personalized support over the summer? Sign up for a Free Calm Consult here!
