SEL Tip: Keep SEL Skills Sharp in the Summer
As the school year comes to a close, it’s important to help students maintain their social-emotional learning (SEL) skills over the summer. While they won’t have the same classroom structure, they can still practice these skills with their families and friends. Here are a few straightforward yet powerful ways your students and their families can keep SEL skills sharp in the summer:
1. Daily Gratitude Journals
Encourage students to keep a daily gratitude journal. This simple practice helps them focus on the positive aspects of their day and can improve their overall mood and outlook.
How to do it:
- Materials: A notebook and a pen.
- Instructions: Each evening, write down three things you are grateful for. These can be as simple as enjoying a sunny day, having a fun playdate, or eating a favorite meal.
2. Mindful Breathing Exercises
Mindfulness can help students manage stress and remain calm. Teaching them mindful breathing exercises they can practice on their own is a great way to keep them centered.
How to do it:
- Materials: None required.
- Instructions: Sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Take a deep breath in through your nose for four counts, hold it for four counts, and then breathe out through your mouth for four counts. Repeat this for a few minutes each day, especially when feeling overwhelmed or anxious.
3. Emotion Check-ins
Understanding and expressing emotions is key to SEL. Encourage students to have regular check-ins about how they’re feeling.
How to do it:
- Materials: Emotion chart (optional).
- Instructions: Each day, take a moment to identify how you’re feeling. Share your feelings with a family member or write them down. Use an emotion chart if needed to help identify specific feelings.
4. Acts of Kindness
Promoting kindness helps students build empathy and strengthen their relationships with others. Challenge them to perform daily acts of kindness.
How to do it:
- Materials: None required.
- Instructions: Each day, perform one kind act for someone else. This could be helping a sibling with chores, writing a thank-you note to a neighbor, or sharing a toy with a friend.
5. Goal Setting
Setting and working towards goals can help students build resilience and a growth mindset. Encourage them to set small, achievable goals over the summer.
How to do it:
- Materials: A notebook and a pen.
- Instructions: At the start of the summer, set a few personal goals. These could be reading a certain number of books, learning a new skill, or improving at a favorite hobby. Track progress and celebrate when each goal is achieved.
6. Problem-Solving Discussions
Help students practice problem-solving by discussing potential challenges they might face and brainstorming solutions.
How to do it:
- Materials: None required.
- Instructions: When a problem arises, take a moment to discuss it with a family member or friend. Talk about possible solutions and choose one to try. Reflect on what worked and what didn’t.
Share These Tips with Families
As the school year winds down, consider sharing these SEL practices with your students’ families. Provide them with a simple handout or email outlining these activities. By encouraging students to practice these skills over the summer, you’ll help them continue their social-emotional development and return to school ready to learn and grow.
In Conclusion
Maintaining SEL skills during the summer is crucial for students’ continued growth and development. These straightforward practices can help students and their families keep these skills sharp, ensuring they are ready for the challenges and opportunities of the next school year. Encourage your students to embrace these activities and enjoy a summer filled with learning and personal growth.
If you found this content helpful, you might enjoy this Imagineerz blog post and check out Developing Social-Emotional Learning Skills at Camp!
