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Learning social-emotional skills is integral to a child’s development. As a result,Ìýimplementing a social-emotional learning (SEL) program in your district canÌýbe greatly beneficial toÌýstudents, whose academic performance and behavior may improve as a result. In fact, with a robust SELÌýplanÌýin place, you can foster a positive school climate across the district.ÌýÌý

ParentsÌýand otherÌýcaregivers are a child’s first teachers of social-emotional skills, and it continues throughout their life.ÌýTo give students the best chance at success,Ìýtheir parents should be engaged with theÌýschool’s SELÌýprogram.ÌýHow do youÌýgetÌýparentsÌýto participate? What follows are someÌýsocial-emotional resources for parents, but let’s first review why getting parental buy-in can be difficult.Ìý

School-FamilyÌýPartnershipsÌýfor Social-Emotional Development

A strong partnership between schools and familiesÌýprioritizes a Ìýand perspectives andÌýfosters communicationÌýschools and caregivers to help drive a districts’ social-emotional learning strategy.ÌýWith strong collaboration and partnerships between school leaders, community members, and caregivers, a district’s SEL program will beÌýculturally relevant and designed to address the specific needs of the school community.ÌýFurthermore, this partnership ensures parents and guardians are aware of – and actively participating in – their child’s social-emotional learning, promoting consistency,Ìýretention, and transparency.ÌýÌý

Why Parents Might Hesitate

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the leading authority on SEL,Ìýbegan helping school districts implement SEL programs in 1994.ÌýAs important as this education is, it is still relatively new, and some parentsÌýmay not have had proper training on how to have conversations with their kids about sensitive subjects.ÌýUnfortunately, there are a lot of parents who may want to help but can’t due to their own lack of SEL skills, or may not want to support a child experiencing social issues or trauma.Ìý

±·²¹±¹¾±²µ²¹³Ù±ð360’s social-emotional resources for parents help to de-stigmatize sensitive topics, educating parents on how to communicate the right message when their children are struggling with social and emotional issues. Parents are your district’s greatest allies, and here’s how you can garner their engagement.Ìý

How to Involve Parents in a Child’s SEL DevelopmentÌý

Ìýis vital to building strong partnerships. Schools can use various tools to educate, engage, andÌýcommunicate with caregivers around their child’sÌýSEL journey.ÌýÌý

• Use two-way communication with families by informing them of activities, programs and policies thatÌýsupport the SEL strategyÌý
• Share regular formal and information communications about SEL through things like school newslettersÌýand emailÌý
• Encourage SEL content transparency byÌýimplementingÌýparent-alignedÌýSEL coursesÌý
• Offer volunteer opportunitiesÌýto familiesÌýinside and outside school that align with SEL topicsÌý
• Facilitate SEL workshops with students, families,Ìýand school staff that focus on specific topics like emotional intelligence, digital civility, and addressing risky behaviorsÌý
• Involve caregivers in decision-making process through parent-teacher conferences, committees, and school climate surveysÌý

Supporting Parent SEL Accessibility in a Digital WorldÌý

Parents lead busy lives and deserve the convenience of accessing valuable SEL lessons on their own time. ±·²¹±¹¾±²µ²¹³Ù±ð360’s web-based and mobile training can be accessedÌý24/7, allowing parents to learn on their own schedulesÌýand in the comfortÌýand privacyÌýof their homes.ÌýTheÌýSEL training is available inÌýmore than 100Ìýlanguages and can be accessed by parents of all cultural backgrounds and ability levels.Ìý

Ease Fears & UncertaintyÌý

The stigma around certain topics, such as bullying or suicide, is likely a top reason why some parents are uncomfortable engaging in conversations with their children about these issues.ÌýAdditionally, schools may host discussion forums about certain issues that parents don’t want their child to be associated with.ÌýByÌýproviding on-demand access to social-emotionalÌýresourcesÌýfor parents in your district, you can help remove the stigma and make it easier for parents to openly discuss the social and emotional concerns their children may be facing.Ìý±·²¹±¹¾±²µ²¹³Ù±ð360’s SEL for Parents includes a robust and evolving library of lessons that can help parents send the right message about the following topics:Ìý

• Mental health and depressionÌý
• SuicideÌýÌý
• Drugs, alcohol, and vapingÌý
• Fighting and violenceÌý
• Academic integrityÌý
• Tardiness and absenteeismÌý
• Study skillsÌý
• RespectÌý
• Racial toleranceÌý
• Digital citizenshipÌý
• And hundreds more

Align Parent LessonsÌýWithÌýStudent LessonsÌý

SEL is as much an education for the student as it is for their parents.Ìý±·²¹±¹¾±²µ²¹³Ù±ð360’s SEL for ParentsÌýalignsÌýparent lessons with student lessonsÌýand provides activities to promote social and emotional development in each.ÌýParentsÌýreceive training on the same topicsÌýas the student so theyÌýcanÌýreinforceÌýtheÌýmessagesÌýtheirÌýchild receivesÌýat school.ÌýOngoing training will help parents tackle difficult subjects andÌýhave smart conversationsÌýwith their kidsÌýaboutÌýtheirÌýmental wellbeing.ÌýÌý

Social-Emotional Learning Resources forÌýParentsÌý

The benefits of SEL curricula to students cannot be overstated. More than two decadesÌýofÌýresearch has shown that students with healthy social-emotional skills can better manage feelings ofÌýanxiety,Ìýdepression,Ìýand stress,Ìýand have positive attitudes about themselves and the people in their lives. Your districtwide SEL program can help improve student behavior and academic performanceÌýandÌýwill act asÌýa foundation that will supportÌýstudentsÌýthrough college and beyond.ÌýToward that goal, parent engagement is critical. Have you positioned parentsÌýto be yourÌýdistrict’sÌýgreatest allies?Ìý

±·²¹±¹¾±²µ²¹³Ù±ð360’s SEL for Parents is the solution that can help you get parents to buy into your program and take an active role in their children’s social-emotional learning.ÌýEncourage their involvement by providing:Ìý

• 24/7 access to web-based and mobile lessons for private learningÌý
• Information that removes the fear and stigma from sensitive subjectsÌý
• Complementary learningÌýalignedÌýwith their children’s lessons, no matter the grade levelÌý

Learn More About SEL for ParentsÌý

±·²¹±¹¾±²µ²¹³Ù±ð360’s CASEL-alignedÌýSEL curriculumÌýprovidesÌýinvaluable support for all stakeholders in your district, perhaps none more important than parents. To learn more aboutÌýsocial-emotional resources for parents andÌýhow SEL for ParentsÌýequipsÌýcaregiversÌýto have smart conversations with their children about today’s toughest challenges, contact us today.Ìý

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