作爲一名幼兒教育工作者，我熱衷於社交情緒學習（SEL）。SEL涉及培養兒童的自我意識和健康的人際關係等技能。最近我家裏發生的一件事正提醒了我培養孩子的情緒認知控制能力有多重要。
一天晚上，我和先生還沒吃晚餐，所以運動後很快就感到饑餓，我就不自覺地皺起眉頭。我三歲的兒子Alex馬上就注意到了我的情緒。他問我是否感到「難過」，我點頭，他又問我爲什麽。我還沒來得及回答，Alex就替我説到：「爸爸，請別這樣，你讓媽媽感到很難過」。我知道Alex在保護我，他不僅識別出我的悲傷情緒，也意識到某些東西傷害到我並試圖找出它們。身爲教養他的父母，他的情商令我感到無比自豪。這裏又提醒我儘早開始SEL的重要性及其對兒童健康成長的影響。
Alex正在我工作的學校奧恩國際幼兒園暨幼稚園學習SEL的PATHS課程。他還參加了我們品格教育課程合作夥伴JEMS的課外活動。再加上家庭教育，我兒子的情緒智商有了健康發展，因此也令我們整個家庭都獲益良多。身爲一位熱衷於幼兒教育的母親和教育家，我深切體會社交情緒學習的長期積極影響。社交情緒技能得到良好發展的孩子往往在學業、社交方面有較好表現，整體上也更樂觀快樂。成年后，他們的這些技能更能幫助他們建立牢固的社交關係，并以更强的適應力應對生活挑戰。
父母在幫助孩子發展這些技能方面發揮著關鍵作用。父母可通過正視情緒問題並樹立健康的情緒表達榜樣為孩子社交情緒技能的發展奠定基礎。以下分享幼兒不同階段培養SEL技能的一些方法：
不同年齡段的SEL提示：
0-1：在照顧幼兒過程中專注於透過微笑、歌曲和鏡像情感來加深親子感情。
1-3：用圖片説出感受並描述自己的感受。閲讀系列圖書。
3-5：進行場景角色扮演，練習同理心，分享及輪候。耐心引導孩子解決問題。
另一件需注意的事是：研究表明，有超過70種不同的情緒，而不僅是快樂、悲傷和憤怒。我們可以為幼兒選擇SEL，訓練他們的情商，而讓孩子受益終身。讓我們與孩子真誠地溝通，傾聽他們的感受，引導他們健康地處理情緒。讓高情商塑造孩子們的未來。
As an early childhood educator, I'm incredibly passionate about social-emotional learning (SEL). SEL involves cultivating skills like self-awareness and healthy relationships in children. A recent experience at home reminded me just how impactful fostering these abilities can be.
One evening, my husband and I came up short on dinner. Feeling hungry after a workout, I frowned - Alex, my three-year-old son, immediately took notice. He asked if I was feeling "sad." I nodded. He asked me, "why?" Before I could answer, Alex jumped to my defense, stating "Stop Daddy, you're making Mom feel sad,". Alex not only identified my emotion of sadness but also understood something has hurt me and then recognized its source. As his educator, I swelled with pride seeing his emotional intelligence. As his mother, I was touched by his protectiveness over me. It was a reminder of the importance of starting early with SEL and the impact it can have on a child's well-being.
Alex is now learning the PATHS programme for SEL at my school, Mighty Oaks International Nursery and Kindergarten. He also attends the afterschool programme at JEMS, our partner for character education curriculum. Combined with focused family efforts, these initiatives have benefited his emotional intelligence. As both a mother and educator passionately committed to children's well-being, I cannot stress enough the long-lasting benefits of social-emotional learning. Kids who develop these skills tend to do better academically, socially and are happier overall. They also carry these abilities into adulthood to build strong relationships and meet life's challenges with greater resilience.
Parents play a pivotal role in helping children develop these skills. By acknowledging emotions and role modeling healthy expression, parents set the stage for social-emotional growth. Here are some tips for nurturing SEL skills at different early childhood stages:
SEL Tips for Different Ages:
0-1: Focus on bonding through smiles, songs and mirroring emotions during care routines.
1-3: Name feelings using pictures and describe your own. Read books showing a range.
3-5: Role play scenarios to practice empathy, sharing, taking turns. Guide conflict resolution calmly.
Another thing to note - research shows there are over 70 distinct emotions, not just happy, sad, and angry. By prioritizing SEL, we equip children with emotional intelligence and lay the groundwork for their overall well-being. Let us genuinely connect with our children, listen to their feelings, and guide them in navigating emotions healthily. Emotional intelligence will undoubtedly shape their future.
