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Improve Social-Emotional Learning At Home

"Families are children’s first teachers and essential to promoting social and emotional learning (SEL) throughout a child’s life.”

— Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)


More schools than ever are using SEL lessons to help students understand and manage their emotions. At home, parents and caregivers have similar goals, but may not know how to communicate them with their loved ones.

Most adults were never taught the same SEL terminology or concepts as their children. As a result, students may experience a disconnect between the SEL taught at school versus at home.

To bridge this gap, we invite caregivers to learn the same SEL strategies that students are learning in the classroom.

How can I share SEL lessons at home?

Start by trying this resources to learn more about Social-Emotional Learning:

Select from a slew of free SEL minilessons, which you can provide as links in home emails. For example, the following breathing strategy can help people of all ages manage their emotions.

Using 5-5-5 Breathing to Calm Down

One part of our nervous system gives us more energy when we need it. This part is called the sympathetic nervous system.

Another part helps calm us down when we are too excited. This part is called the parasympathetic nervous system. When you get upset, nervous, or anxious, you can trigger your parasympathetic nervous system to calm yourself down. This activity will teach you a simple technique called 5-5-5 breathing.

Your Turn: Try 5-5-5 breathing. Follow these steps.

  1. Inhale very slowly through your nose for 5 seconds: 1-2-3-4-5.
  2. Exhale very slowly through your nose or mouth for 5 seconds: 1-2-3-4-5.
  3. Wait for 5 seconds: 1-2-3-4-5.
  4. Repeat the process three more times (1 minute total).
  5. Notice how you feel. (You should feel calmer.)

Where can I get more SEL at-home lessons?

In Focus Online offers Premium Editions with at-home activities and student reflections for each daily 10–15 minute classroom lesson. Caregivers learn right along with their students, supporting them while improving the social-emotional health of their households.

At-home activity pages give families and caregivers . . .

  • Background about the SEL lesson, communicating its goals, objectives, and relevant research.
  • synopsis of the activity students completed in class.
  • script for discussing and reinforcing the same lesson with the student at home.
  • reflection activity for the student and other family members.

Sample At-Home Lessons