PreschoolersSocial-Emotional Development

Through Family Involvement

Hannah Sauer, Abby Jensen, Jessie Thomas

Hannah Sauer

Child Development major

Goals: Preschool Teacher; Masters in Child Life?

Interests: painting, photography, camping, going to the lake, missions trips, spending time with friends and family

Abby Jensen

Child Development major with a minor in Applied Behavior Analysis

Goals: Masters in Applied Behavior Analysis and become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

Interests: hiking, traveling, reading, painting, trying new things, cooking, relaxing with my friends and family

Jessie ThomasChild Life major with a minor in Interpersonal Relations

Goals: Work and do programing for an organization that serves individuals with disabilities or medical diagnoses in an outdoor setting (camp, outdoor education centers, etc.)

Interests: Outdoor recreation, singing, spending time with friends and family, reading, learning new things, art, and travel.

ObjectivesSocial-emotional development (SED):

● What it is● Benefits of it● Ways to foster it

Activities:

● How they can promote SED● Types of activities● Specific examples

Family involvement:

● What is it● Social-emotional benefits of it● How families can get involved

What is Social-Emotional Development (SED)?“Social-emotional development includes the child’s experience, expression, and

management of emotions and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others”

Benefits of SEDFewer problem behaviors

Communication skills

Expectations of environment

Emotional regulation

Engagement

Relationships

Self awareness

Independence

Relationships with others

● Feel welcomed, loved, and accepted

Self-awareness

● Identify emotions● Control their bodies● Engage in appropriate behaviors

Emotional regulation

● Manage and control emotions● Improve communication● Improve conflict resolution

Independence

● Follow routines● Communicate● Complete self care tasks● Confidently explore environment

Social-Emotional Teaching PyramidYellow foundation:

● Systems and policies

● ensures sustainment of evidence-based practices

Blue Tier: ● Universal supports ● all children● relationships● environments

Green Tier: ● Prevention ● targeted ● social emotional

strategies● Challenging

behavior

Red Tier: ● Intervention● individualized● intensive

interventions

Ways to Foster SEDNurturing and Responsive Relationships

● Learn about each child● Build relationships with families● Provide families with information● Professional collaboration

High Quality Supportive Environments

● Give clear directions● Intentionally arrange environments● Positive adult-child interactions● Consider the setting● Developmentally and culturally appropriate

Ways to Foster SED cont.Targeted Social Emotional Supports

● Individualized instruction ● Systematic approach● Comprehensive teaching● Teacher-directed activities

○ Introducing○ Rehearsing○ Modeling○ Role-playing

● Free-play ○ Practicing○ Prompting in context○ Feedback

● Guidance to caregivers

Ways to Foster SED cont. 2Intensive Intervention

● Comprehensive● Systematic and consistent ● Individualized Positive Behavior Support (PBS)

○ Natural environment○ Assess triggers and function○ Prevention strategies○ Replace challenging behavior

● Developmentally appropriate● Partnership

DiscussionKnowing what you just learned about how to foster social-emotional development, how can you be intentional with this aspect of a child’s learning?

How Can Activities Foster SED?● Offers support ● Teaches them to use their resources● Creates an environment where they can ask questions, solve problems, and

expand their mind. ● Encourages them to interact with others and teaches social skills such as

verbal conversation, working together, and sharing.

There are many activities that you can do with children to help foster Social-Emotional Development.

Some of these are:

● Songs● Dramatic Play● Creative storytelling● Shape, number, or letter games● Science or messy activities● Blocks● Circle games● Many more!

Hickety Pickety Bumble Bee&London Bridge is Falling Down

Story Stones

Matching Games

Messy Science

Block Projections

Activities In Practice...

Field Trip - Nature Scavenger Hunt

Mud Kitchen

Talent Show

Free Play

Relationship Building

Block Structures

Writing Center

It’s not about the actual activity you implement, but how you take advantage of the opportunity to approach a child’s learning intentionally through

an activity.

We have learned through our experience....

Group Activity!

● Pick any combination of your objects (2-10) that you could use in an activity that will help foster a child’s social emotional development. Decide as a group how you will use each item.

● You are NOT LIMITED to the items in front of you. Get creative by incorporating loose parts or other

resources you feel you could add to enhance your activity.

Tell us about it:

-What is the activity?

-What materials will you use?

-What will the child(ren) do during this activity?

-How will this benefit a child’s social emotional development?

Work Together

What is Family Involvement?

● Collaborative and strengths-based process in which early childhood professionals, families, and children build positive and goal-oriented relationships.

● It is a shared responsibility between families and staff● There needs to be mutual respect for the roles and strength each

member has

Why is Family Involvement Important?

When families, schools, and communities partner in promoting learning and healthy

development for all children, student outcomes increase and schools thrive

Social-Emotional Benefits of Family Involvement5 categories of benefits:

○ Child welfare○ Juvenile justice ○ Behavioral health○ Education○ Early childhood education

Commonalities Across the Categories

● Improves the ability of families and children to cope with issues ● Improves and promotes communication and positive relationships with

families, schools, and communities● Builds trust within families and between families and schools● Promotes social and emotional competence for children and youth

Examples of How Families Can Get Involved

● Nature Scavenger Hunt ○ Parents can do the same scavenger hunt around their neighborhood○ When parents know what their children do at school, they are more

likely to stay involved in their child’s learning

● Mud kitchen○ Children can take what they have learned from playing in the mud

kitchen to their home kitchen and help their parents cook○ Children’s confidence can be boosted from helping their parents

● Story Stones ○ Parents and children can find stones together around their house and

paint their own story○ Can strengthen the bond between parents and children○ Can help children cope if their is a big change going on in the family

Children's social-emotional development flourishes when their parents are actively involved in their learning, whether the

learning takes place at school or home.

In Conclusion

Thank You!

Sourceshttp://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/itf09socemodev.asp

http://sb6nw2tx4e.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&

https://www.virtuallabschool.org/preschool/social-emotional/lesson-2

http://challengingbehavior.fmhi.usf.edu/do/pyramid_model.htm

https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/family-engagement

https://www.childwelfare.gov/FEI/benefits/