What is Social Emotional Learning?

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a process of acquiring the knowledge and skills to engage, interact, and build relationships with other people, and it is essential in order to thrive in school, at home, and at work.

Social emotional skills include:

1. Communication: Includes verbal communication, or what you say and how you say it, and nonverbal communication, such as body posture, facial expression, and eye contact.

2. Cooperation: Working together with others to accomplish a goal.

3. Empathy: The ability to identify and understand other people’s emotions.

4. Emotion Regulation: The ability to identify your feelings and manage them appropriately.

5. Impulse Control: The ability to control your behaviors by considering short- and long-term consequences.

6. Social Initiation: Making and keeping relationships by knowing when and how to work or play with others.

5 Ways Parents Can Help Children Improve Social Skills

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Supports

Ways to Cope in Trying Times:

This is a stressful time for students, families, and educators. Concerns about the spread of COVID-19 are growing. Here, Committee for Children have compiled a list of resources you can use to help young people learn the social-emotional skills they need to get through these challenging events.

We’re dedicated to supporting the social-emotional skills and well-being of children and the adults in their lives. Available year-round, these free resources are more relevant now than ever.

DIY SEL Summer Camp

Our online summer camp can help kids ages 1–14 learn social-emotional skills, science, social studies, math, and more!

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Free SEL Activities

Free Second Step activities for children ages 5–13 for remote learning or for families to do with kids.

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Second Step SEL Passport

Help Grades K–5 students reinforce their social-emotional skills at home or as part of your remote-learning plan.

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The Imagine Neighborhood

Our free podcast is designed to help kids and families tackle the big feelings that come with growing up.

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Mind Yeti

Practice mindfulness during this difficult time with free sessions designed for adults to do alongside children.

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Little Children, Big Challenges

Help young children face significant challenges with videos, songs, family resources, and printable downloads.

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Captain Compassion

In comics and with fun activities, our bullying prevention superhero shows how everyone can help stop bullying.

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Hot Chocolate Talk

Our research-based how-to guide takes the guesswork out of what to say to your child about sexual abuse.

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ParenTeen Connect

Real teens and their parents address hot-button topics to help others with useful advice, videos, and resources.

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SEL Posters

Put up a few visual reminders to help your kids name their feelings and learn how to manage them, too!

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How to Create a SecondStep.org Account

Through December 31, 2020, families can access all the streaming media and downloadable content on SecondStep.org.

How to Create a Second Step Account

  1. Under New Users, click ”Create Account”

  2. Complete the required fields

  3. Add the Program Activation Key for the grade level of your student:

Early Learning: SSPE FAMI LY68

Kindergarten: SSPK FAMI LY70

Grade 1: SSP1 FAMI LY71

Grade 2: SSP2 FAMI LY72

Grade 3: SSP3 FAMI LY73

Grade 4: SSP4 FAMI LY74

Grade 5: SSP5 FAMI LY75