The Feelings Song:
Daniel Tiger: Song - Making New Friends
How to make new friends:
Second Step® is a universal SEL curriculum designed for kindergarten through Grade 5 that helps children develop foundational social-emotional skills. It’s research-based, aligned with SEL best practices, and typically taught with short weekly lessons (about 20–30 minutes) plus brief daily activities to reinforce learning.
The kindergarten curriculum focuses on four major domains that support kids’ social, emotional, and classroom success:
Young learners build habits that help them be ready to learn:
Learning to listen
Focusing attention
Following directions
Using positive self-talk
Being assertive (e.g., asking for what they need)
Children begin identifying and understanding feelings:
Recognizing basic feelings in themselves and others
Naming emotions
Differentiating same vs. different feelings
Caring and helping behavior
Kids learn strategies for regulating strong feelings:
Linking feelings to body responses
Calming down when frustrated or angry
Managing disappointment and waiting patiently
Students practice peaceful ways to interact and solve problems with others:
Recognizing when there’s a problem
Inviting peers to play
Finding fair ways to play together
Handling conflicts like name-calling or sharing disputes
Reviewing skills they’ve learned throughout the year
Weekly Lessons: Each unit includes a set of age-appropriate weekly lessons with stories, puppet-led activities, games, and practice time.
Daily Reinforcement: Short daily activities or “Boosters” help kids use skills in real moments at school and home.
Engaging Materials: Classroom kits include visuals like puppets and songs to make lessons accessible and fun for kindergarteners.
By the end of kindergarten, students typically strengthen skills such as:
✔ Listening and paying attention
✔ Recognizing emotions
✔ Calming strong feelings
✔ Showing kindness and understanding toward others
✔ Solving simple social problems with peers