Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Definition, Competencies, and Benefits

Social Emotional Learning helps kids develop essential life skills — like understanding emotions, handling challenges, building healthy relationships, and making thoughtful decisions.

When SEL is introduced in classrooms, counseling sessions, or at home, it can have a lasting positive impact on how children and adolescents grow, connect, and succeed. 

What's In this Quick Guide to Social Emotional Learning 

What Is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?

The goal of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is to teach children and teens emotion and relationship skills. 

Whether introduced in schools, counseling sessions, or at home, SEL focuses on helping kids understand and regulate emotions, develop empathy, interact well with others, and make responsible decisions. 

Research shows that these “soft skills” not only help students manage stress and reduce behavior problems—they also improve academic performance and provide long-term benefits that extend well beyond graduation.

🟢➜ This post shows how SEL fits in with emotional intelligence: What Is Emotional Intelligence (EI)? Definitions, Models, and Skills

A Brief History of Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

The term Social Emotional Learning began to gain attention in the early 1990s, but its underlying ideas—like emotional literacy and empathy—have long been part of education and human development.

In 1994, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) was founded at the Yale University Child Study Center. CASEL played a key role in identifying and promoting the social and emotional competencies—core skills and abilities—that students need to thrive. Today, CASEL remains one of the most influential organizations in SEL research, training, and program development.

Their five-competency model has become one of the most widely used SEL frameworks across schools, counseling programs, and community-based youth work.

What Are the Five SEL Competencies Defined by CASEL?

According to CASEL, Social Emotional Learning is built around five interconnected competencies. Each one strengthens how we understand ourselves, relate to others, and navigate everyday challenges.

Self-Awareness

This competency involves recognizing your own emotions, thoughts, and values—and understanding how they influence your behavior. It also includes building self-confidence and developing a realistic sense of your strengths and limitations.

Self-Management

Self-management is the ability to manage stress, control impulses, and stay focused on goals. It includes regulating emotions, practicing self-discipline, and motivating yourself to take positive action.

Social Awareness

Social awareness includes the ability to value the perspectives of others, show empathy, and recognize social norms and cues. It also involves appreciating diversity and understanding how context influences behavior.

Relationship Skills

This competency covers the skills needed to form and maintain healthy relationships. It includes clear communication, active listening, cooperation, conflict resolution, and seeking or offering help when needed.

Responsible Decision-Making

Responsible decision-making involves making thoughtful, respectful choices based on ethics, safety, and consideration of the well-being of yourself and others. It includes evaluating consequences, reflecting on values, and solving problems constructively.

What Are the Evidence-Based Benefits of SEL in Schools? 

 

“A growing body of research and literature supports the premise that effective SEL programming is a key to children’s success in school and life.”
— SEL Research Group / CASEL Update, July 2010

SEL is supported by decades of research showing clear benefits for students of all ages—including those in elementary school, middle school, and high school.

For starters, Social Emotional Learning programs have been able to demonstrate positive results for their stated goals of improved relationships and emotion skills. 

Research also shows many positive side effects of SEL. 

Academic Gains

A meta-analysis of 213 studies found that SEL participation is associated with an average 11-point gain in academic achievement. (Child Development Journal, 2011)

Mental Health Improvements

A Yale Child Study Center Study analyzed over 250 SEL programs in more than 50 countries. Among other benefits, SEL was shown to:

• Increase self-esteem, perseverance, and optimism
• Reduce anxiety, stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts

Reduced Behavior Problems

In preparation for testimony to the US Congress in March 2023, the Learning Policy Institute reviewed 12 meta-analysis SEL benefits studies. The results included evidence that SEL programs in every grade K-12 "reduced disruptive behavior and emotional distress."

Higher Graduation Rate

Research shows increased graduation rates for students with SEL as high as 6% compared to control groups. 

Positive Long-Term Outcomes

Research that examined results from SEL follow-up studies collecting data from people 6 months to 18 years after they had gone through school-based social emotional learning programs found that "participants fared significantly better than controls in social-emotional skills, attitudes, and indicators of well-being" and that "postintervention social-emotional skill development was the strongest predictor of well-being at follow-up."

🟢➜ For more related research results, check out this post: 15 Important High Emotional Intelligence Benefits. 

SEL Resources for Parents, Teachers, Homeschoolers, Counselors, and Therapists

🟢➜ Ready to bring SEL into your work with teens? Click here for a post that explores my card sets, lesson plans, and engaging printable activity sheets for middle and high school students — created from decades of experience teaching emotion, communication, and relationship skills to clients. 

Frequently Asked Questions About SEL

Want a quick refresher? Here are answers to some common questions about SEL.

What does SEL stand for?

SEL is an acronym Social Emotional Learning.

What are the 5 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies?

The 5 broadly accepted SEL competencies defined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) are Self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Why is Social Emotional Learning important for teens?

SEL teaches emotional regulation, empathy, communication, and decision-making—all crucial for success in school, relationships, and life.

How can I teach SEL at home?

Parents can teach Social Emotional Learning at home through daily conversations about emotions, modelling emotional regulation, and guided activities.

Boosting your own Emotional Intelligence is vitally important for ability to nuture these skills in your children. If you're looking for a resource to help build your own skills — or to work through together with your teen — my Building Skills to Uplevel Life: Silver Lining Emotional Intelligence Workbook is a great place to start.

What are some examples of SEL activities?

Emotion word searches and crossword puzzles, “I” message prompts, thoughts and feelings journaling exercises, anger iceberg worksheets, and card-based self-awareness games are examples of SEL activities for kids. Each of these can be found in my Teaching Emotional Awareness Series of instant download printable PDFs. Check them out on my Etsy Shop: AnnSWellnessDigitals. 

← Previous Post Next Post →