When we think of preparing young children for school, we often imagine words, numbers, and the ABCs. But what about learning how to share, listen, and manage big feelings?
That is where social-emotional learning, or SEL, comes in. SEL is a powerful, research-backed foundation that helps children not only succeed academically but also grow into empathetic and self-aware people. The effects are long-lasting, shaping their development into adulthood.
Early childhood social-emotional learning in San Antonio is being embraced through structured programs—like Pre‑K 4 SA and Head Start—that intentionally design classroom environments, curriculum, group routines, and family-style interactions to help young children build emotional regulation, empathy, and positive social skills.
What Is SEL, and Why Start Early?
Social-emotional learning refers to how children understand and manage their emotions, relate to others, and make healthy decisions. Children build most of their SEL skills through play and time with peers, with parents and teachers playing a key role.
According to the CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) framework, SEL is built on five main skills:
- Self-Awareness: Naming feelings and recognizing one’s strengths
- Self-Management: Coping with frustration and staying focused
- Social Awareness: Practicing empathy and understanding perspectives
- Relationship Skills: Cooperating, listening, resolving conflict
- Responsible Decision-Making: Thinking through choices and their consequences
When taught early, SEL is not just a bonus. It is essential to boost school-readiness, lower future risk of mental health challenges, and strengthen family and peer relationships. The foundation for these skills is especially important in the first three years.
Across Texas, kindergarten readiness continues to be a key part of student success. Recent data shows that approximately 58% of Texas kindergarteners are considered school-ready, according to the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Children who attended public pre-K programs, which often integrate SEL strategies, were nearly twice as likely to be ready compared to those who didn’t.
How Teachers Support SEL in the Classroom
In early childhood classrooms throughout San Antonio, social-emotional learning is a crucial element of daily instruction. Here are some of the ways educators bring SEL to their classrooms:
- Safe, inclusive spaces: Classrooms celebrate each child’s background with stories, songs, and rituals that build trust and belonging.
- Modeling emotion regulation: Teachers show how to name and manage big emotions using calm tones, empathy, and tools such as breathing buddies or calm-down corners.
- Imaginative play: Children act out friendship challenges or family stories using puppets, blocks, or dramatic play, building empathy and creativity.
- Facilitated conflict: Rather than stepping in to fix problems, teachers guide children to solve social disagreements themselves.
The Long-Term Impact of SEL
When children develop social and emotional skills early, the effects extend far beyond the classroom, including:
- School-readiness and academic success
- Positive relationships with peers and adults
- Emotional regulation and resilience
- Lower risk of behavior problems and mental health issues
- Greater civic engagement and workforce-readiness later in life
For communities, strong SEL programs create healthier schools, more stable families, and a more compassionate, collaborative future generation.
Parent Engagement in Early Childhood SEL
Research shows that SEL is most effective when schools and families work together. When caregivers model emotion regulation, empathy, and decision-making at home, children receive consistent, reinforced learning environments. SEL strengthens developmental outcomes and family bonds. Remember, even simple, daily moments are powerful teaching tools.
Strategies for Homes & Families
1. Morning Emotion Check-Ins: Create a simple daily routine of checking in using emoji charts, mood wheels, or homemade feelings boards. Encourage children to share why they feel that way and what they might need.
2. Model Emotion Regulation: Share your tools with your children. When adults intentionally describe what they are doing to regulate their own emotions, children learn emotional regulation by example. For example, “I feel angry, so I’m taking five deep breaths.” Teaching toddlers to manage emotions through items like a comfort blanket, deep breaths, or distraction can help them learn healthy coping skills early on.
3. SEL Through Play: Use puppets, picture books, and role-play to teach empathy, sharing, and conflict resolution. Ask questions like “How would the animal feel?” or “What could you say if a friend takes your toy?”
4. Labeling Emotions : “You’re feeling sad because the toy broke.” Talking about your own feelings and modeling statements like, “It’s hard for me to wait, but I’m trying to be patient,” can show them it’s okay to have big feelings like anger or fear. Comfort and reassurance that you’re there to help builds trust.
5. Builds Connection, Not Fear: Instead of punishing unwanted behavior, give positive guidance. As stated in HUD’s Kindergarten Readiness Tips for Providers, “set limits in calm ways and focus on children’s positive behavior.” Toddlers don’t misbehave because they’re “bad,” they’re still learning. Telling them what they can do with prompts like “Let’s be gentle” works better than saying “Don’t hit.”
6. Routines and Helping Your Child Feel Included: As children enter the preschool years (ages 3–4), social-emotional skills deepen. Predictable routines help them feel secure. Before switching activities, giving a gentle warning like, “In 5 minutes, we’ll clean up,” can reduce tantrums and anxiety.
When to Get Extra Help
If you notice your child isn’t hitting milestones or seems emotionally withdrawn, it’s okay to ask for help. The CDC and Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) provide resources to check your child’s growth. Some children may need more support, and early intervention can make a big difference.
However, keep in mind that children don’t all grow the same way or react the same way. Some are naturally shy, while others are full of energy. Temperament affects how they respond to new situations, loud sounds, or unfamiliar people. Understanding your child’s temperament helps you support their unique needs.
You Make the Difference
The most important thing you can do is be present. Respond with love. Celebrate your child’s efforts. Give them room to try, fail, and try again. Every acknowledgement of their feelings may seem like a small thing, but will build the foundation for lifelong emotional health.
As the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families shares, “Within the context of one’s family, community, and cultural background, social-emotional health is the child’s developing capacity to: form secure relationships, experience and regulate emotions, and explore and learn.” And that journey starts with you.
Tips for Service Providers Helping Families
Share printable activity sheets like emotion wheels, story prompts, or feelings diaries from ESC‑20 or pre-K programs.
Host family workshops on SEL. Include group story read-alouds, role-play activities, and mini mindfulness sessions.
Provide resource toolkits containing local program info such as AVANCE or Pre‑K 4 SA, parenting classes, and community support lines.
Sources
- The Importance of Social Interaction in Child Development
- Verywell Mind – Social-Emotional Development
- Massachusetts DOE – SEL Core Competencies
- BCCHP – Importance of SEL
- Northern Arizona University Blog – SEL in Early Childhood
- Virtual Lab School – Infant/Toddler Social and Emotional Development (Lesson 2)
- HUD – Kindergarten Readiness Tips for Providers
- The State of Readiness Report