12 Kids Social Emotional Learning Activities for Home and the Classroom

Reading time: 5 minutes

Social and emotional learning, often shortened to SEL, gives children structured practice with self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationships and decision-making. It works best when it is connected to ordinary situations rather than presented as a separate set of slogans.

Below you will find 12 activities that can be used at home, in a classroom or in a small group. Protect children's privacy: use fictional scenarios for group discussion and make personal sharing optional.

Self-awareness activities

1 One word check-in

Invite each person to choose one feeling word at the start of a lesson, family meal or activity. Allow “pass” as an answer. The routine builds vocabulary without requiring an explanation.

2 Strength evidence

Ask children to name something they are improving and give one piece of evidence: “I am becoming more patient because I waited while my partner finished.” This keeps strengths specific and believable.

3 Feelings in the body

Use a body outline to mark physical clues connected to excitement, worry, anger or tiredness. Discuss how clues vary between people and do not prove what someone else feels.

Self-management activities

4 Strategy stations

Set up two or three short options: movement, quiet drawing and slow breathing. Let children try each while calm, then record which one they might use before a test, after conflict or during frustration.

5 Stop plan choose

Practise a three-step routine with low-stakes examples. Stop before acting, make a short plan and choose a safe response. Role-play spilling water, losing a turn or receiving difficult feedback.

6 Small goal review

Each child chooses a manageable goal for the week and names the first action. Review what helped rather than simply marking success or failure.

Social awareness activities

7 Perspective pair

Tell a short story involving two characters. Half the group considers one perspective and half considers the other. Compare what each person might know, want and feel.

8 Clue detective

Use illustrations or fictional scenes. Ask children to identify facial, body, verbal and situational clues. Remind them that clues support a guess; they do not allow us to know someone's feelings with certainty.

9 Kindness that fits

Discuss why help should match the person's need. One person may want advice; another may want company or space. Children practise asking, “Would you like help?”

Relationship and decision-making activities

10 Listening pairs

One person speaks for one minute while the partner listens. The listener then summarises the main idea without adding an opinion. Swap roles and discuss what made listening easier.

11 Repair practice

Use a fictional conflict. Children choose a repair: an honest apology, replacing an item, giving space, including someone or changing the plan. Discuss why a rushed apology may not complete the repair.

12 Consequence paths

Write a decision at the centre of a page and draw two or three possible paths. Consider immediate and later effects on the child and other people. This helps responsible decision-making feel concrete.

The ResiliKids 5 in 1 Emotional Intelligence Bundle provides printable emotional learning activities that can be selected one page at a time for home or small classroom use.

How to make SEL activities effective

Match the activity to the skill children need. A class struggling with interruptions needs listening and turn-taking practice more than another general feelings poster. Repeat a useful activity. Children need enough familiarity to use the skill when a real problem occurs.

Keep reflection short and specific. Ask what the child noticed, what was difficult and where the skill might help. Do not reward a child for revealing private information or grade the emotion they report.

Families and teachers can use similar language. A shared phrase such as “pause and choose” makes it easier for a child to retrieve the skill in different settings.

For adults who want emotional and curiosity-based resources in one printable collection, the ResiliKids 12 in 1 Confidence and Explorer Bundle supports a broader whole-child programme.

Frequently asked questions

What are the five main areas of SEL

CASEL identifies self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making.

How often should children do SEL activities

Short, regular practice is usually easier to apply than an occasional long lesson. A few minutes several times a week can be built into existing routines.

Can SEL activities be used with children who learn differently

Yes, but participation methods should be flexible. Offer visual choices, movement, drawing, writing and private responses. Seek specialist advice when a child needs individual support.

Sources

·         Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning. Fundamentals of SEL.

·         Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Enhancing and practising executive function skills.

·         American Psychological Association. Top principles for families to help children learn.