Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in Kindergarten

As a kindergarten teacher, one of the most rewarding aspects of my job is helping my students develop the social and emotional skills that will guide them throughout their lives. These early years are quite important... not just for academic growth but also for building the foundation of emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-regulation. I've seen firsthand how critical it is for young children to learn how to understand their feelings, manage relationships, and resolve conflicts – all essential skills that go far beyond the classroom.

Recognizing and understanding emotions

In kindergarten, we begin by helping students identify and understand their own feelings. I remember a particular day when we used simple 2D and 3D facial expressions to teach the children about different emotions. We discussed how a frown or a smile can show if someone is sad or happy. I watched as my students pointed out the emotions on the faces in the pictures, and even more rewarding, they started recognizing these emotions in themselves and their classmates.

This is a powerful first step in what I like to call "self-awareness." It’s important for kids to start recognizing what makes them happy, angry, or excited as they grow. I encourage my students to express these feelings through words, not actions, and we practice saying things like, “I feel upset because I lost my toy,” instead of showing frustration by throwing something. Over time, I've noticed that this simple practice helps them become more mindful of their emotions, improving their ability to self-regulate.

Self control and making good choices

Another key area we focus on is self-control. For many kids, practicing patience and managing their impulses can be a real challenge. I remember one of my students had a hard time waiting for his turn during group activities... He would get frustrated and shout when others were talking or playing, but with consistent encouragement and practice, he began to understand that his actions could affect those around him.

We use various methods to help students practice self-discipline, like teaching them to take deep breaths when they feel frustrated or reminding them of the “quiet hand” when waiting for their turn. It’s amazing to watch them internaliize these methods and gain more control over their reactions.

Navigating friendships and resolving conflicts

Social skills are another area where I see so much growth in kindergarten. Kids are learning how to make friends, share, take turns, work together in groups, etc. One of the most powerful moments in the classroom is when students come to me to share something exciting, like “I made a new friend!” or “I shared my snack today!” These little milestones show that they are learning the importance of kindness and cooperation.

Learning how to resolve conflicts can be a bit trickier, though. A quick example - two of my students fought over a toy last year. They were upset and didn’t know how to solve the problem. We took a break, sat down, and discussed different ways to approach the situation. I guided them through the steps of listening to each other’s feelings and finding a solution that makes sense to both of them (personally, I think this is key). By the end of the conversation, they were able to resolve their issue on their own and even gave each other a hug.

The importance of good manners

I feel like teaching good manners is overlooked, and is an important aspect of sel. Saying “please” and “thank you” or greeting friends with a smile, is super important. These small acts of kindness go a long way in creating meaningful & positive relationships... I try to reinforce this daily, but it's really important that us as parents (not just our kids' teachers) continue enforcing this at home. Kids mostly immediate what they see more than what they learn.

Mindfulness and being present

This might be a bit advanced for most kindergarteners, but in our busy world, taking a moment to pause and focus on the present is so important. I often ask my students to try closing their eyes and taking deep breaths, or noticing the sounds they hear around them. These small moments of mindfulness help my students become more aware of their bodies, their emotions, and the world around them. Even at a young age, I’ve seen how these moments of calm can make a big difference in their ability to focus and regulate their emotions.

Final thoughts

As a kindergarten teacher, it’s my job to guide my students and give them the tools they need to succeed in life (not just academically, but emotionally and socially as well). Social and emotional learning is much more than just a set of skills, but daily habits that I’m privileged to build along with my students. I'm very thankful for what I do for a living, even when it can be quite overwhelming at times... and I hope to be an inspiration for other teachers in that sense as well :)