Teaching Social and Emotional Skills to Very Young Learners

 

Developing Social and Emotional Learning material for very young learners is a big challenge as well as a rewarding experience. We need to respect the kids’ needs and acknowledge their capacity to read reality. In this way, we can help them to reflect upon their experiences and draw their own conclusions.

As Diana Coholic* (2010) asserts, “arts-based and experiential methods are an excellent way to access, express and process transpersonal issues, thoughts, experiences and feelings.” As a consequence, we need to use them to create the ideal atmosphere for very young learners to dive into their inner selves, to focus on special issues and to learn to interact with others in a healthy way. Games and corners are useful tools to serve these purposes.

When I was offered the opportunity to develop booklets to be used to help very young learners to work in the development of social and emotional skills I decided to accept the challenge and I am really thankful to have done so. I have learned a lot about children and much more about myself. That is the magic of mindfulness. We mirror many behaviours and understand them better.

*COHOLIC, D. (2010) Arts activities for children and young people in need : helping children to develop mindfulness, spiritual awareness and self-esteem . Jessica Kingsley Publishers. USA

Strategies to help children to focus

Heartbeat noticing

Children need to learn how to focus on the here and now.

Sit with the children on the floor. Tell them close your eyes and listen to your heart. Put your hands on your chest and feel the heartbeat. Feel how the beats slow down.  Take a deep breath. Exhale. Slowly, open your eyes.

The mindful jar

Children need to focus attention to calm down.

Fill three quarters of a clear jar with water. Add a spoonful of glue glitter and close the lid. Shake to make the glitter swirl. This is like your mind when you have strong feelings. They don’t let you see clearly. Leave still for a while. The glitter goes down and the water clears. This is how your mind calms down when you breathe deeply. You can think clearly.

HELPING CHILDREN TO CALM DOWN

The heart flashlight

Children need to lower anxiety and control their emotions. They need to feel that they can do it.

Tell the children Sit down and focus on your breath. Breathe in, 1…, 2…, 3. Breathe out, 1…, 2…, 3. (Repeat this 3 times). Imagine a green light spreads love everywhere and over everyone. Focus on that situation that is arising anger or worry in you. Wrap it with the green light. Now you can control your feelings. Relax. Keep this peaceful feeling inside your heart. Use it when you feel angry or sad.

Mindfulness tips

Why Mindfulness at schools?

Schools should start helping kids to discover the benefits brought about by the practice of mindfulness since Kindergarten. We can play and help them to perceive the world and themselves from the here and now.

Posing is a great technique to empower kids by helping them to develop self-confidence and by practising self-talk.

Hero pose

Whenever kids have to solve a problem, help them to pose as superheroes. Model the pose for them to imitate it. Stand with your feet just wider than the hips, fists clenched, and arms reached out to the sky, stretch your body as tall as possible.  Encourage kids to say to themselves I’m a heroe! I’m powerful. The result will be immediately noticed. Kids will keep their backs straight and they will have that self-assertive attitude which will lead them to success.