Emergency

Social and emotional learning

If your child is having a mental health or substance use crisis:

  • Call 9-1-1 or take them to the nearest emergency room
  • Call 310-6789 for mental health support
  • Call 988 for the National suicide crisis line
  • Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868)
  • KUU-US Indigenous Crisis and Support Line: 1-800-588- 8717

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the life-long process of learning social and emotional skills that are important for healthy relationships, mental well-being, and thriving at school and in life. Social and emotional skills add to your child’s well-being and help them cope with life’s challenges.

four young children students with a teacher wearing a yellow shirt high fiving inside an elementary school classroom

Why is SEL important?

Social and emotional learning supports children to: 

  • Have more positive peer relationships and school experiences
  • Cope with life’s challenges
  • Improve academic performance Have better mental health

Find out what’s happening at your child’s school

  • Connect with your child's school [or teacher] to find out about SEL initiatives
  • Check out your child’s school newsletter

Did you know? 

SEL is integrated into the school curriculum in British Columbia. All B.C. students take part in SEL although the approaches may vary.

Using some of the same SEL strategies at home as your children are learning at school can support their social and emotional development.

Strategies for supporting social and emotional learning

  • Help your children build awareness of emotions by talking about your own feelings and validating all emotions (It's okay to feel sad, angry, disappointed...)
  • Validate your children’s feelings. Discuss healthy and unhealthy ways to express emotions that align with your home and cultural values. For example, hitting a pillow may be okay, but hitting people is not okay.
  • Try out different ways to deal with emotions in healthy and culturally appropriate ways. Listen to music, read a book, draw, take a walk (especially in nature), move your body, or seek support through friends and family.

Tips for supporting your child’s social and emotional learning at any age

  • Model kindness, compassion and helping others. If your child sees you doing these things, they are more likely to build these important social skills.
  • Invite your child to talk about what’s going on in their lives, and listen without judgment or trying to fix the problem. Ask them how you can best support them during challenging times.
  • Ask yourself - What is the need behind the behaviour that I am observing?

Children and adolescents go through different periods of social and emotional development as they grow.

Check out Kelty Mental Health on social and emotional development for more information on social and emotional growth and development over the years.

Support your child’s social and emotional skills at home

Resources

Download the PDF version and explore translated versions below.

These family-friendly guides were created together by Vancouver Coastal Health and the BC Children’s Hospital - Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre teams to support you and your child.

    • English - Social and emotional learning

      View

    • Spanish - Social and emotional learning

      View

    • Simplified Chinese - Social and emotional learning

      View

    • Traditional Chinese - Social and emotional learning

      View

    • Vietnamese - Social and emotional learning

      View

    • Punjabi - Social and emotional learning

      View

    • Farsi - Social and emotional learning

      View