Every kid has a point in time when they need either their parents and/ or teachers to support them with learning new behavioral skills.
Practical Practice Ideas for developing a variety of social emotional skills.
Taking Turns and Being Patient
Please take a moment and practice these skills at school and at home by:
- Playing a Game
- Reminding me to wait my turn
- Asking me what
- I can do while I wait for my turn
Having rules and Following rules
Please take a moment and practice these skills at school and at home by:
- Asking your student why rules are important
- By playing a game with rules
- By creating new rules
Feelings and Emotions
Please take a moment and practice these skills at school and at home by:
- Asking your student to name as many feelings as they can
- Encourage your student to verbally name their feelings
- Verbally expressing your feelings as the parent/teacher
- Asking your student to identify the feelings of others in a story or on television
- Have your student show you what different emotions look like
Using “I” statements
Please take a moment and practice this skill at school and at home by:
- Having you student use “I” statements throughout the week (e.g. “I feel…”, “I want…”, “I think…”)
- Ask student why it is important to use “I” statements
- Ask student in what setting they should use “I” statements
Anger
Please take a moment and practice recognizing Anger at school and at home by:
- Asking what your students body look like when they are Angry.
- Ask your student to explain the Grouchometer
- Ask your student where they are on the Grouchometer throughout the week
Words and there meanings
Please take a moment and practice these skills at school and at home by:
- Asking your student what kind of messages words send.
- Ask your student to give examples of “Nice” words
- Ask student why people may say “Not Nice” words
Anger
- Asking what your students what they should do when angry
- Ask your student to explain things that may be triggers for Anger
- Ask your student what they can say if they are Angry
- Practice “Stop and Think” to calm down
Teasing
- Ask your student, “What does teasing look like?”
- Ask your student what are their options for dealing with teasing (ignore, agree, tell adult, ask, “Why did you say that?” Say, “I want you to stop”).
- Role-play situations and ask your student what they would say or do in these situations.
Consequences
- Recognizing that there may be both positive and negative consequences.
- Have your student list positive and negative consequences throughout the week.
- Role-play scenarios and have your student state appropriate consequences.
- Play a board game that has consequences
Problem-Solving
- Role-play disagreements and ask “what does each person need?”
- Have students consider consequences
- Have your student make the best choice or make a plan to help with problem solving.
- Reflect on whether or not the plan worked
Other Resources:
Vanderbilt CSEFEL- Practical Strategies for Teachers/Caregivers
“You Got It!” Teaching Social and Emotional Skills
Fostering Social and Emotional Skills Development in Early Childhood – PPT
Resilience Booster: Parent Tip Tool – APA resource