At preschool age, children are learning to identify feelings and emotions that they experience each day. This is a major developmental milestone for young children because expressing and managing emotions is a necessary social skill they need to interact with others. Noddy by Elizabeth is an early learning centre in Bangkok that emphasises the importance of social-emotional development.
What is Social-Emotional Learning?
Social-emotional learning teaches young children to manage and express their emotions, which serves as a foundation for interacting with others and maintaining relationships. It can be as simple as learning to share toys or understanding the feelings of classmates, which helps children develop emotional intelligence—the ability to identify and manage their own emotions and those of others.
When children understand and are able to manage their emotions, they become more self-confident and are better equipped to handle the ups and downs of growing up.
Why is Social-Emotional Learning Important?
Children who experience social-emotional learning have improved interpersonal skills, empathy, and self-awareness. Social-emotional learning has other benefits, like:
Increased focus and engagement: Children with strong social-emotional skills are better able to manage their emotions and behaviours, leading to better focus and engagement in activities.
Stronger relationships: Social-emotional learning helps children cultivate effective communication skills, empathy, and conflict resolution, which are essential for social skill development and relationship-building.
Improved self-confidence: Children who are emotionally intelligent are also more likely to have higher self-esteem and more independence to do things by themselves.
Better resiliency: Children with high emotional intelligence tend to have better mental health. They’re more equipped to handle challenges when they arise and can recover quicker from setbacks.
How to Teach Emotional Control
Child psychologists recommend these techniques to help young children manage their emotions:
Labeling Emotions
Labeling emotions is important because if you can name it, you can tame it. Teach children how to identify their feelings with simple activities like reading books about the different emotions and using a “feelings chart” to help children express their feelings more clearly.
Breathing Exercises
Encourage children to take deep breaths to help calm them down when they feel frustrated, anxious, or overwhelmed. You can teach this through fun games like pretending to blow an imaginary balloon with their breath to practise self-regulation.
Use Storytelling
Tell stories or watch videos with characters experiencing and managing different emotions. This is an entertaining way for children to learn and understand complex emotions. You can also have children role-play scenarios and ask questions like “How do you think they feel?” or “What would you do if you were in their shoes?” to help children empathise with others and practise what to do when they experience certain emotions.
Creative Expression
Activities that allow children to express themselves through art, music, or dance can be effective in social-emotional development. This helps young children develop self-awareness and learn healthy ways to communicate their feelings.
Modeling Emotional Intelligence
Children learn a great deal by observing the adults around them. By watching how parents, caregivers, and teachers handle their emotions, children learn appropriate ways to deal with feelings. This is why it’s necessary to model positive behaviours like treating others with kindness and communicating with respect. Saying “please” and “thank you” are some of the ways children learn this.
Being in a nurturing environment that promotes understanding and communication, whether in school or at home, is also important for young children to feel comfortable expressing their emotions. At Noddy by Elizabeth early learning center near Sathorn, our parents and caregivers are encouraged to offer comfort and reassurance, let their children know it’s okay to have big feelings like anger or sadness, and that they’re here to help.
Social-Emotional Learning at Noddy by Elizabeth
Noddy by Elizabeth, a leading Early Years Foundation Stage school in Bangkok, believes in the value of social-emotional learning. Our teaching staff are trained and experienced in supporting children’s emotional health by being role models in positive behaviour, like patience, kindness, and respect. Each day, our students engage in activities that foster social skills and emotional intelligence while learning.
Discover how our British international curriculum and free-flow play-based approach can enrich your child’s learning and development. Contact us to book a school tour.
Source:
https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED535684.pdf
https://www.unicef.org/northmacedonia/learning-social-and-emotional-skills-pre-school
https://www.verywellmind.com/social-and-emotional-development-in-early-childhood-2795106
Elizabeth Prinyarnussorn founded Noddy by Elizabeth Playgroup in 1978, driven by a passion for creating a nurturing environment for children aged 18 months to 6 years. With her UK nursing background, she introduced the British “learn through play” approach to Bangkok, setting a high standard for early education. Over 40 years of dedication, she continues to inspire the school’s mission.