Enriching Education: SEL Day 3/11

 In December the U.S. Surgeon General declared a youth mental health crisis that "requires a whole-of-society response" including expansion of social-emotional learning (SEL) programs in preK - 12 classrooms nationwide. Now educators, parents and business leaders are supporting SEL and its impact on child and youth mental health with the third annual SEL Day on March 11, 2022.

Last year, the second annual SEL Day garnered more than 14 million social media views, seven state proclamations, and U.S. Congressional Record recognition, plus activities at thousands of schools and districts. Participants joined from all 50 U.S. states and 69 countries.

More than 30 years of research show the efficacy of SEL in helping kids thrive in school and later in life. SEL equips kids with the emotional and mental life skills that 80 percent of parents and large majorities of teachers and employers says they value, such as:

• Managing and relieving mental and emotional distress
• Creating healthy relationships
• Setting goals and taking initiative
• Handling challenges with optimism
• Problem solving and conflict resolution
• Communicating and collaboration
• Making ethical decisions

It is hard for kids to be good students, family members, and friends when they are struggling with low self-confidence, anxiety, depression, family disruption, bullying, violence or other increasingly common challenges. The reality is two out of three kids face at least one of ten major adverse childhood events (ACEs). 

SEL Day celebrates the growing movement to equip all preK – 12 students with the social and emotional life skills they need to be happy and successful in school, relationships, work, and life. Today, educators and child development experts know that learning is about more than good grades in academics.

This year, EQuip Our Kids!, a nonprofit advocacy organization working to increase awareness of SEL,  is hosting an online webinar featuring parents who are SEL expert parents whose children have transformed and thrived from experiencing SEL in their schools. They will share their "before and after SEL" stories. (More info and registration) To request an interview with any of the listed webinar speakers, please email contact@EQuipOurKids.org.

Parents, educators, and businesses who want to promote SEL Day can register for free to declare their support.