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Social and Emotional Development | Resources | WTTW Kids Learn & Play

Social and Emotional Development

In order for children to be successful lifelong learners, it is important that they develop strong social and emotional skills in their early years. Building strong, healthy relationships with others is key to academic success. In addition, learning persistence, sparking curiosity, and developing strategies for self-regulating behaviors and emotions as a child help to make learning easier and relationships healthier throughout a person’s lifetime.

Children are curious by nature, but they need to be drawn to a situation or an item to want to learn more about it. Being able to ask adults questions empowers them, which helps them begin to self-identify problems and look for ways to solve them independently. These fun, interactive activities, videos, and books encourage curiosity and problem solving in young learners.

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Over The Line

Put your problem-solving skills to the test to get over the finish line with your friends.

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Lids

Use your problem-solving skills and race the clock to get lids back on the jars where they belong.

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Related Children's Books

  • Henry and the Yeti by Russell Ayto
  • The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
  • Winners Never Quit! by Mia Hamm
  • The OK Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld

Just as adults do, young children need to learn to control their emotions as they become more independent and begin interacting with the larger world outside of the home. These activities, videos, and books reinforce practicing self-control when dealing with others in a variety of situations.

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Emotional Charades

Let your acting skills shine through as others guess what emotion you are pretending to feel without using any words or sounds.

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Angry Daniel

Learn, along with Daniel Tiger and his friends, how to deal with your emotions the next time you feel angry or frustrated.

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Related Children's Books

  • Llama Llama Mad at Mama by Anna Dewdney
  • Feelings by Aliki
  • In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek
  • The Bad Mood and the Stick by Lemony Snicket

In order to master new skills, children need practice through repetition to increase confidence and strengthen connections in the brain. These activities, videos, and books are designed to highlight the importance of practice in the learning process.

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Keep Trying!

Practice your tossing skills; if you keep trying, you’ll get better and better as you go along!

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Cut and Grow

Improve your cutting skills through practice, and make some cool paper designs in the process!

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Related Children's Books

  • Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan
  • The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
  • Flight School by Lita Judge
  • You Can Do It, Bert! by Ole Könnecke
  • How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers

As they grow, children need to learn how to express their emotions in ways that help adults around them understand exactly what they are feeling and why they feel that way. By learning how to “use their words,” children can become better communicators. These activities, videos, and books encourage children to express themselves clearly and advocate for themselves.

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Emotional Pantomime

Come up with ways to use body language and facial expressions to show others how you feel.

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Make a Face

Create a paper face to match an emotion and see if others can guess the emotion on the face without using any words.

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Related Children's Books

  • It's Time to Start Using Your Words by Lawrence E. Shapiro
  • The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
  • The Feelings Book by Todd Parr

Sharing is an important life skill, giving young learners a foundation for understanding the importance of cooperation and justice later in life. These activities, videos, and books remind children that working together with their peers and being generous will lead to a great deal in return, including fun and friendships.

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Paper Chain

Create a paper chain of your own, then share your chain with others to create one that can stretch around the room and beyond.

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Related Children's Books

  • Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
  • Llama Llama Time to Share by Anna Dewdney
  • Oh, Bother! Someone Won’t Share! by Betty Birney and Nancy W. Stevenson
  • It's Mine! by Leo Lionni
  • Gossie by Olivier Dunrea
  • Friends by Elaine Scott
  • George and Martha by James Marshall
  • A Rainbow of Friends by P. K. Hallinan
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