How to teach social and emotional skills to kids?
Academic performance plays a key role in school success, yet it tells only part of the story. For students to succeed, they also need social and emotional skills. These skills help them manage emotions, build relationships, and make responsible decisions. Parents and teachers both hold the power to nurture these life-long strengths, starting from daily routines.
As one of the leading schools in Raipur, we explain how to teach these skills and include practical advice:
What Are Social and Emotional Skills?
| Skill Area | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Self-awareness | Understanding one’s emotions, values, and strengths | A student says, "I feel nervous before my speech." |
| Self-management | Managing emotions, stress, and impulses | A student breathes deeply instead of shouting |
| Social awareness | Showing empathy and respect for others | A student notices a classmate is sad and checks on them |
| Relationship skills | Building healthy relationships and resolving conflict | A students says, "Let's take turns" |
| Responsible decision-making | Making safe and fair choices | A student chooses not to join a fight, even when provoked |
Why Do These Skills Matter for School and Life?
Students face more than exams. Daily life at school involves group work, stress, criticism, and rules. When they build emotional and social skills, they:
- Stay calm and focused in class
- Handle feedback with maturity
- Collaborate well in groups
- Bounce back after failure
Examples:
- A student uses deep breaths after a tough maths test instead of giving up.
- During a group project, a student listens without interrupting and shares fairly.
Checklist for Parents: Daily Ways to Support Social and Emotional Skills
| Area | What to Do at Home |
|---|---|
| Morning routine | Use calm reminders instead of shouting: "Let’s take three deep breaths before school." |
| After school | Ask one open question: "What was the best part of your day?" |
| Bedtime | Reflect on emotions: "Did anything feel hard today?" |
| Conflict | Use calm language: "Let’s pause. What are you feeling right now?" |
| Mistakes | Avoid blame: "Everyone makes mistakes. What can we do next time?" |
How to Teach Empathy at Home?
Empathy allows a student to understand others’ feelings. It grows through repeated, small moments.
Parents can try this script:
- Notice: "You seem upset."
- Name: "That sounds disappointing."
- Respond: "What might help right now?"
Build empathy through daily talk (5 minutes):
Use one of these daily prompts:
- "Who was kind to someone today?"
- "Did you notice anyone who looked sad?"
- "What did you do to help someone today?"
Keep your tone calm and curious. Avoid rushing to solve everything. Empathy builds when children feel heard without judgement.
Checklist for Teachers: Building Relationship Skills and Friendship
| Action Step | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Include relationship skills in weekly lesson plans | Reinforce communication, cooperation, and respect alongside academic subjects |
| Role-play one school-based scenario each week (10 mins) | Help students practise friendly, assertive responses in a safe setting |
| Use real-life situations to model respectful behaviour | Show students what healthy interactions look and sound like |
| Teach polite request phrases | e.g., “Please return that. I need it.” |
| Practise setting boundaries without aggression | e.g., “Do not speak to me like that.” |
| Introduce “repair lines” after conflicts | Teach students how to fix relationships with dignity and accountability |
| Display “repair lines” on a classroom poster | Visual reinforcement helps students remember calm conflict resolution tools |
| Allow short pair practice (2–3 minutes) | Students rehearse one repair or request line with a classmate |
| Keep role-play light and supportive | Reduce fear of mistakes and build confidence |
| Reflect after incidents instead of punishing immediately | Encourage responsibility and emotional learning over fear-based discipline |
| Praise students for using repair or friendship skills | Reinforce positive behaviour with specific feedback (e.g., “I liked how you waited your turn and asked politely.”) |
Social and emotional skills shape how a child feels, learns, and connects. They support success not just in school, but in life. Indian parents can start with small steps: calm talk, empathy scripts, reset tools, and daily reflections.
With consistent practice at home and in school, children grow into resilient, respectful, and confident individuals.
Remember: No child masters these skills overnight. Like reading or writing, SEL develops with time, support, and safe practice.
Let us raise not just smart children, but kind and strong ones too.
When schools and parents work as a team, students benefit the most. Social and emotional skills develop faster and more naturally when children receive the same messages at home and at school.
Looking for Information on School Admissions in Raipur Where a Shared Approach Supports Social and Emotional Skills?
As one of the best schools in Raipur, Podar International School, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, helps students develop essential emotional and social skills by prioritising character development. We focus on instilling values, resilience, responsibilities and respect in our students to make sure they grow up to be responsible and ethical citizens. We also maintain a positive, all-inclusive environment in our school, and organise group activities and projects throughout the year to help students sharpen their social and communication skills.
For more information on our schools admission in Raipur, contact our team at:
Email Address: admissions@podar.org
Telephone No: 8527507838
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