The Dallas ISD Social and Emotional Learning Department is providing seven helpful tips to incorporate social and emotional learning at home.
- When your child is feeling stressed, ask how they feel: When you do check-in about feelings, you are sending the message that their feelings matter and that you care.
- When your child has a hard time making a decision, provide choices and respect their wishes: When children have a chance to make choices, they learn how to solve problems. Letting children make decisions teaches them that their ideas, feelings, and perspective matter.
- When feelings and social issues are difficult to talk about, read books and stories together: Reading aloud is a way to share something enjoyable and learn about how other people deal with common issues like making or losing friends or handling conflicts.
- When your child is having a disagreement with a sibling, friend or member of the home, ask questions that help children solve problems on their own: When children have a problem, do not step in and take over. Instead, try to ask good questions and encourage them to find their own appropriate solutions.
- When your child is feeling insecure, focus on strengths: First praise what they did well and then talk about what can be improved. Do not just criticize the things that were wrong.
- When you make a mistake, be willing to apologize: If you miscommunicate, apologize and calmly explain what you really meant. Being a good role model means teaching that it is possible to work through problems with consideration and respect for others.
- When you are feeling stressed or uncertain: Be patient and kind with each other. It’s ok to take a break, go for a walk, or have some alone time. It’s important for our children to know that adults can get stressed or upset too, but that there are positive ways for managing those big emotions.
