What is the Pyramid Model

Pyramid Model in the Monadnock Region

Welcome! It is our goal that this page will serve as a hub of information on all that’s happening in our community around Pyramid Model. Whether you’ve just heard about Pyramid Model but aren’t sure what it means, are a parent looking for solutions to challenging behavior at home, or are just looking for some resources – you have come to the right place!

This video features a program in Wisconsin that has been implementing Pyramid Model for several years. Although it’s not local it gives a great overview of what Pyramid Model can do for teachers, children, and families. 

What is the Pyramid Model?

The Pyramid Model is an evidence-based framework for supporting early childhood professionals to promote young childrens' social emotional learning. 

What is social emotional learning and why is it important?

Social emotional learning is the process through which children learn to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. 

These are a few examples of social emotional skills taught in the early years: 

  • Taking turns
  • Learning how to be a good friend
  • Labeling feelings and emotions
  • Understanding how someone else feels
  • Problem solving 
The research tells us that these are the kinds of skills that are foundational to children's future academic, career, and life success. 

So we know that social emotional skills are important, but why do we need the Pyramid Model?

We know that strong social emotional skills are essential to children’s later well-being, but what’s not always as clear, is how parents and teachers can support children in developing these skills. The Pyramid Model provides the framework necessary to ensure that teachers have what they need to help children develop these skills, and that administrators can support the work at the program level to ensure that social emotional learning remains a long-term priority for their center.

This image helps to show us that there are a variety of Pyramid Model practices designed to help all children develop necessary social emotional skills. 

Looking for more? Check out this tip card and visit our other Pyramid Model pages:

The Pyramid Model Leadership Team

Information for Families

Information for Practitioners

Pyramid Model Annual Report 2023