Let us ask you a simple question – Can you expect your kids to absorb knowledge if they are distracted, hungry, exhausted, or fearful? Definitely not! That’s because such kinds of moods indicate that kids are not in a good mental state at that very moment. So, what do you do when you find your kids in such a state? Let us guess! If they are hungry, you give them food to help ease off their hunger cramps. If they are feeling distracted, you try and remove all the possible distractions from their sight. If they are tired or exhausted, you ask them to relax for a while and then start afresh.
Basically, what you are doing here is helping your kids identify the real problem by making them aware of their emotions. And that’s exactly what social and emotional learning is all about! It is about making the kids aware of their own emotions and helping them understand others’ emotions as well. Social and emotional grooming of kids hence helps ensure that they grow into emotionally intelligent and respectful individuals.
So today, we, at Delhi Public School, Sushant Lok, a renowned CBSE affiliated school in Gurgaon, would like to share with you a few tips on how you can encourage the social and emotional development of your kids at home.
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Model the desired behavior
Children learn a lot about emotions and responsibilities by watching their parents’ conduct. So, whether it’s you apologizing for your mistakes or treating people with respect and compassion, keep in mind that you are being observed and followed. Remember the 24K Golden Rule by Maurice Elias, co-author of two books on social and emotional parenting – “We should constantly think about the effect of our actions on kids, and be as careful in what we do with our kids as we would want others to be with our kids.”
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Assist your kids in expressing and naming emotions
Do not step back from helping your children comprehend how they are feeling. If they have difficulty identifying their emotions, encourage them to express them via painting, facial expression, or a movement in their body. Older children may attempt diary questions such as “If I were a weather reporter and my emotions were the weather, it would be _____ today.” They may lack the emotional language to express their emotions but might be able to describe a foggy, dreary day and would learn to relate accordingly.
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Respect differences
Every kid is endowed with distinct skills and abilities. Resist the temptation to compare your kid to peers or siblings in academics, sports, or interpersonal interactions. Instead, celebrate your child’s achievements and provide support and encouragement as he/she confronts the inevitable difficulties.
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Participate in creative tasks together
Being creative is an inherently vulnerable process, particularly for older kids and adults. But by exercising our creative muscles, we can actually unlock parts of ourselves that might otherwise be locked off. It can also help us discover new ways to learn about ourselves as well as others. Solving puzzles, playing board games, coloring or art projects, etc., are all examples of creativity in action. So, get involved in creative tasks together with your kids and help them explore their emotions through various creative means.
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Practice active listening
Don’t simply presume that you know precisely how your kids feel or what they are scared of. There are fairly good chances that you are still unaware of certain hidden feelings of your kids. This could especially hold relevance if you are a parent to a teen or a preteen. Hence, see to it that in answer to their inquiries, you ask them questions, listen to them carefully, establish eye contact with them, and then explain or help them with whatever you can. Confirm that you are aware of and understand their emotions, worries, and concerns.
Summing Up
At DPS Sushant Lok, one of the leading CBSE affiliated schools in Gurgaon, we believe that developing essential habits takes time. Hence, give your children regular chances to identify, express, and regulate their emotions. Have their back and offer support in helping them analyze and comprehend their emotions and how to move through them. Once you establish the right kind of environment and understanding with your kids at home, their social and emotional growth will proceed in the right direction. And you can then rest assured of your kids growing into hap