For Families

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. 

 
What should I look for if I want to enroll my child in a program that prioritizes social emotional learning? 

Here are some questions to ask when talking to a potential program:

  1. Does your program use the Pyramid Model framework? 
  2. How do you teach social emotional skills, such as: 
    • taking turns
    • learning how to be a good friend
    • labeling feelings and emotions
    • understanding how someone else feels
    • problem solving
  3. Does your program have behavior expectations? 
  4. How are those expectations taught to children? 
  5. Are those expectations shared with families so that those skills can be encouraged at home? 
  6. What are your policies around suspension and expulsion?
  7. Have teachers and other staff been trained in working with children with trauma? 
Watch the video below to see what kids themselves have to say about the importance of social emotional learning! 

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Here are some additional resources if you're looking for ways to support social emotional learning at home:

In the Monadnock Region we are working with the following centers that implement the Pyramid Model: