Running head: IMPORTANCE OF SEL DEVELOPMENT FOR ADULTS 1

Importance of SEL Development for Adults

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IMPORTANCE OF SEL DEVELOPMENT FOR ADULTS 2

Importance of SEL Development for Adults

Social-Emotional Learning development is useful to individuals of all levels and ages.

A child who has engaged in SEL practices is likely to develop the CASEL’s 5 core

competencies (SEL 3, 2019). An adult who participates in SEL practices will also enhance

these competencies. The competencies are likely to result in better leadership skills (for the

leaders), and better teaching skills (for the teachers). These practices improve one’s

professionalism and personal life. The ‘SEL 3 signature practices’ is a framework of

endorsed routines that participants can use to enhance the 5 competencies. While the

practices enhance the competencies, the competencies improve one’s leadership and teaching

skills. The competencies include; quality decision-making, relationship skills, self-awareness,

social awareness, and self-management. These can be achieved via welcoming inclusion

activities, engaging activities, and optimistic closure activities. While adults can use these

practices to build their competencies, leaders and teachers can use the practices to enhance

the competencies in others at work, schools, and in the community.

To begin with, welcoming Inclusion activities help create a relaxed atmosphere for

every participant to feel safe and accepted. It also allows the participants to have their

opinion heard and to hear the opinion of others. By creating a routine of these activities, the

participants/adults develop a habit of positive social interactions. An adult who has great

interaction skills will be able to teach/guide the younger ones with ease and have productive

interactions at home and in the community. The engaging activities help in; giving the brains

of the participants a break, helping the transition from one concept to the other, and in sense-

making (SEL 3, 2019). These activities help the participants to refresh their minds and get

them back to class. Engaging the participants will make sure that everyone is connecting with
IMPORTANCE OF SEL DEVELOPMENT FOR ADULTS 3

the teacher. This interaction between the teacher and the students will guarantee a good grasp

of the concepts being taught. Lastly, the optimistic closure activities help the learners to

reflect on what they have learned for the day/session and connect with their next activity –

which is going home. The learners also gain psychological preparation for the activities of

the next day.

Notably, the 3 SEL Signature practices induce the 5 CASEL competencies. Self-

awareness entails an understanding of one’s situation, emotions, values, and thoughts. Based

on an equality perspective, self-awareness helps individuals understand how their ethnicity

and race have contributed to who they are. The welcoming inclusion activities that entail the

sharing of thoughts and listening to other people’s thoughts can be effective in improving

one’s self-awareness skills (SEL 3, 2019). Self-management involves the control of one’s

thoughts and feelings. After individuals are aware of their feeling and thoughts, they can

devise mechanisms to control them. Social awareness is the ability of individuals to

understand the values, thoughts, and emotions of those who surround them. The listening

circle gives participants a chance to hear from others, especially those from different

cultures, races, and religious backgrounds. Relationship skills are the skills that help an adult

to create and maintain sustainable interactions with the learners, fellow adults, family, and

society. These four competencies result in responsible decision-making, which is the 5th

competence.

In conclusion, while adults can use these practices to build their competencies,

leaders and teachers can use the practices to enhance the competencies in others at work,

schools, and in the community. While the practices enhance the competencies, the

competencies improve one’s leadership and teaching skills. The competencies include;
IMPORTANCE OF SEL DEVELOPMENT FOR ADULTS 4

quality decision-making, relationship skills, self-awareness, social awareness, and self-

management. These can be achieved via welcoming inclusion activities, engaging activities,

and optimistic closure activities. An adult who has great interaction skills will be able to

teach/guide the younger ones with ease and have productive interactions at home and in the

community. The 3 SEL Signature practices induce the 5 CASEL competencies amongst the

participants.
IMPORTANCE OF SEL DEVELOPMENT FOR ADULTS 5

References
SEL 3 Signature Practices Playbook (2019). Practical ways to introduce and broaden the use

of SEL practices in classrooms, schools, and workplaces. Retrieved from

https://schoolguide.casel.org/uploads/2018/12/CASEL_SEL-3-Signature-Practices-

Playbook-V3.pdf