Acts of generosity are especially common this time of year but what would it look like if we practiced generosity more often? This holiday season, through activities and discussion, we can help our children better understand generosity and the positive impact it has on others. Check out our blog to learn more about activities to foster generosity.
As parents and educators we cannot take away the fears and anxieties of our children, as much as we’d like to but we can help our children understand their emotions and provide them with the tools to feel better. Check out our blog for tips on teaching children about anxiety and fear, and superpowers for managing these big emotions.
How do we understand self-management? Self-management is the ability to manage our actions and behaviors as well as achieve goals and aspirations. Practicing self-management will have important long-term benefits such as establishing positive relationships and making responsible decisions. Read more about how we can help children understand and practice self-management.
A new school year is here and introducing SEL books can support children’s emotional well-being. Parents and educators can support the social emotional growth of children with these engaging read-alouds that focus on social emotional skills such as motivation, self-confidence, fairness, mindfulness, and empathy. Check out our blog for the full list!
As educators, we love to share our passion for social emotional learning with like-minded educators. This summer, Better Kids hosted a social emotional learning book club with educators from across the globe! Starting a book club is a great opportunity for your own professional, personal growth, and to share ideas with others. Read more for five tips on how to start your own SEL book club.
Discover “Would You Rather” questions for kids, a fun activity for the classroom and at home! This activity is a great way for children to use their imagination, practice weighing the pros and cons and making decisions when they are faced with a limited set of choices. It's also an opportunity to learn more about each other and about themselves. Read our blog for a full list of fun questions!
There are many different mindful activities that can help children sleep better, strengthen their ability to focus, and improve their ability to regulate their emotions. Meditations are a unique opportunity for children to independently find stillness, reflect, and start or end their day on a positive note. Check out our blog for more on the benefits of meditations and how to use them with your child.
Whether you are a teacher or parent, you can create opportunities for conversation and reflection during Mental Health Awareness Month with these inspiring quotes! Invite your child or students to make an art project with their favorite inspirational quote. Read on for creative ideas on how to support your children's social emotional development!
With the changing seasons and excitement of summer upon us, it is the perfect time to help your child establish, or re-establish, healthy routines! Exercise, sleep, and healthy eating are all important for growth and social emotional well-being. Read more for 8 tips on how to help build healthy habits.
We know learning how to lose is a skill that needs to be practiced because even as adults, we don’t like to lose and some people may react more strongly than others. As our children grow, their competitive nature can also grow with them. We can model for them how to lose graciously and how to celebrate the journey that is the activity or competition itself. Read more about how to teach these important skills to your child.
Every school year is unique for each child as it is a period of growth and reaching new milestones. This year is especially unique as students are presented with new ways of reaching these milestones. Whether it is in-person, virtual, or a hybrid of both we are learning more about what our students truly need to feel successful, curious, and supported. At Better Kids, we believe developing social emotional skills is an essential component to a child’s education. Read more for five fun SEL activities you can incorporate into your classroom.
A child’s ability to learn is dependent on a series of factors. Are basic needs being met? Is there a sense of safety? Are the child’s emotional needs being met? A child who is struggling with behavioral, emotional, and social challenges may also be struggling with academic challenges. Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) is a framework used by schools to address and identify students struggling with these challenges. Read more about how MTSS and SEL can provide a model to support each student at school.
Parenting is always a challenging job. As we swing into a less structured summer and navigate the new norms of social distancing, though, caregivers are presented with more challenges this summer than those before. Without the usual summer camps and summer classes, how can we structure children’s days and continue our own work? With some families returning to playdates and sleepovers, how can we ensure both the safety and happiness of our own kids? Read on to see how we might think about these new parenting challenges this summer with COVID-19.
Did you know that social-emotional learning and equity are two sides of the same coin? This means that we are not truly teaching into SEL unless we talk about race and anti-racism in our classrooms. Educators have an awesome responsibility to educate themselves and the students they love by defining racism, understanding history and contemporary issues, and becoming allies. Here are some ways that one teacher works towards anti-racism in her classroom.
Have you ever made a mistake and found yourself having a hard time accepting your frustrations and limitations? Self-compassion is a mindful way for us to be aware of how we can be more kind to ourselves during these times and strengthen self-confidence. According to Dr. Kristin Neff, “having compassion for ourselves means you honor and accept your humanness.” Self-compassion and SEL can help kids deepen positive relationships with themselves and with others. Read more about the benefits of self-compassion.
In the middle of a pandemic and protests, now is the time to ensure we are supporting children in their compassion for others and their actions against injustice. Here are just a couple actionable items and tips to beginning important conversations with our children about race and equality.
There are many uncertainties and concerns when it comes to returning to school in the fall, and not so many answers, but what is undeniable is that social-emotional learning and a prioritization of rebuilding community and relationships will be critical to children’s overall well-being and success with learning. Read more about how educators can prioritize key issues and plan for a new school year.
When we get caught up in the busyness of life it is easy to lose track of our emotions. Mindfulness, or mindful exercises, are a powerful tool (or superpower) for helping children understand social emotional learning! Read on to find out more about how mindfulness plays a role in learning these valuable skills.
Is the COVID-19 outbreak causing more arguments and fights at home between the kids? Today’s added anxiety can lead to stronger emotions and more problems than usual, especially as adults and children are all cooped up together. Now may be a good time to teach into or brush up on responsible problem solving skills that are key to managing a good life and improving mental health. Read on to help your kids become problem solvers!
