Social Emotional Learning

Second Step® Programs 

Kindergarten Unit 1 

Unit 1: Learning to Listen Home Link 

What Is My Child Learning?
Your child is learning the rules for how to be a good listener. These rules help your child know how to listen and act in a group so everyone can learn. 


Why Is This Important?
Being good listeners helps children be better learners. Following the Listening Rules helps children listen and pay attention in class. 


Ask your child: What are the Listening Rules in your class?
 (Have your child tell you each rule and show you the action that goes with it. Rules are listed at right.) 


Practice at Home: (optional) 
Before giving directions for daily activities, such as picking up toys or washing hands, remind your child to use the Listening Rules. For example: You need to use your Listening Rules now. Say each rule and do the actions along with your child, then give the directions: We’re getting ready to leave now, so put on your shoes and coat. 


Listening Rules we are learning :
Eyes watching Point to your eye.
Ears listening Cup your ears with your hands.
Voice quiet Put your finger to your lips. Body still Hug your torso with both arms. 

Kindergarten Unit 2

Unit 2: Emotion Management 

What Is My Child Learning?
Your kindergartner is learning to use clues,  including looking at a person’s face and body and what’s going on, to recognize 3 common feelings— happy, sad, and mad. Toward the end of the unit, they also become familiar with slow breathing as a way to help themselves feel calm when they experience strong emotions.

Why Is This Important?
Research shows that children who learn the skills in this unit are more likely to:

What to look for at home:  
Notice and praise your child when they  recognize and label feelings—their own and  other people’s—or use clues to guess how  someone else is feeling. You can say, It does  look like that person feels mad. Good job  paying attention to their face and body and what’s going on!

Practice at Home: Try This! 

Discuss: A few times a week, ask your child,  When did you see someone who looked happy today? When did you see someone who looked sad? How did you know they felt that way? 

Discuss: A few times a week, ask your child,  When did you feel mad or sad today? What did you do to feel calm? 


Practice: After your child has learned slow breathing at school, practice with them. Take a deep breath through your nose, hold it for a  moment, then slowly release it through your mouth. 

Kindergarten Unit 3

Unit 3: Empathy & Kindness  


What is my child learning?

Unit Themes: Your child is learning about the power of kindness to help people feel good. Kindergartners learn examples of kind acts and talk about why being kind to others is important. Toward the end of the unit, they practice two kind acts: offering to share and offering a hug. 

Why is it important? 

Research shows that children who learn the skills in this unit are more likely to: 

> Display greater empathy
> Engage in positive behaviors
> Avoid aggressive behaviors

Practice at Home: (optional) 
What to Look For Notice and praise your child when they show kindness or do kind acts for others. For example, when they help someone, share a toy, or offer a hug. You can say, I noticed you were kind and shared your toys. That’s a great way to help your sister feel good!

Try This! 

Discuss: A few times a week, ask your child, What was a kind act you did today? or What were some kind acts that others did for you? 

Practice: After your child has practiced offering to share at school, help them practice offering to share when playing with siblings or friends. 

Remind them that asking “Would you like to share?” is a kind act that helps everyone have fun together.

 Practice: After your child has practiced offering a hug at school, practice at home during pretend play. Choose a stuffed animal or a doll and pretend it’s feeling sad. Encourage your child to ask, “Would you like a hug?” to help the toy feel better.