Nowadays, simply offering the usual educational content offered by schools is no longer enough for education . In addition to technical skills, young people need to develop and understand their socio-emotional skills. These are not only important in the professional and academic areas, but throughout each person’s life.
These skills are innate in individuals, but they can be worked on, encouraged and developed throughout their education. To achieve this, this subject should be introduced early on, in basic education and in family life. The objective of this development is to form citizens who will know how to deal with their own issues and with other people in the best possible way.
With this in mind, we have prepared this article to help you understand how important the development of socio-emotional skills is for children. Enjoy reading!
What are socio-emotional skills?
Social-emotional skills involve a range of abilities to deal with emotions, relate to others and manage life goals. All of this encompasses self-awareness, empathy, resilience and a collaborative spirit.
This is essential for human beings to be able to live in society and build healthier relationships. These skills are necessary in different contexts, integrating the processes related to knowing, learning, being, working and living together. The six recognized socio-emotional skills are:
- Collaboration : important in any environment, as no one lives alone and needs other people. Here, three points are necessary, such as knowing how to listen, being empathetic and proposing solutions based on the collective idea;
- communication : knowing how to convey good ideas to other people is very important. All information needs to be conveyed clearly and have a purpose. Good communication can improve any result;
- proactivity : gives each individual the freedom and ability to start and implement any project;
- Critical thinking : allows you to identify and analyze different points about the same subject. To do this, you need to know how to filter each one and validate the information. In addition, this characteristic is related to being willing to rethink opinions based on different ideas;
- perseverance : is the ability to plan to achieve a goal and put that plan into practice, knowing that obstacles will arise along the way. This characteristic prevents people from giving up on their dreams.
How do they impact anyone’s future?
Over the years, many professions emerge, while others cease to exist. With so many technological advances, companies need more than just employees with technical knowledge and begin to seek other characteristics, especially socio-emotional ones.
When it comes to academic and practical skills, what organizations look for is not just what the professional has mastered, but how he or she applies that knowledge. The socio-emotional part prepares exactly for this and for the challenges encountered along the way.
This way, students will know how to face the problems and barriers they encounter in their careers. They will also be better prepared to deal with the particular characteristics of other people.
What is its importance in children’s development?
Bringing the development of socio-emotional skills closer to the school environment provides space for a more complete education and has positive impacts on well-being throughout life. This happens because human beings are a very sociable species and their characteristics can be improved before and after school.
Helps you focus on achieving your goals
These skills are even more useful for organization, planning, integrated action, decision-making and establishing focus. This means that, in addition to having techniques and knowledge characteristic of the area of school education, it is essential that the child is able to control his or her emotions and feelings in order to manage his or her behavior to achieve his or her goals.
Guides you to have balance in interpersonal relationships
Thinking about the future, socio-emotional skills alone do not guarantee success in the profession. However, they help to maintain balance in interpersonal relationships, which is very important for anyone’s career.
Contributes to good professional development
By developing and practicing socio-emotional skills inside and outside of school, children will be better able to manage, identify and solve problems related to their own routine. This is reflected in their professional life, especially in teamwork.
How does technology help in the development of these skills?
Socioemotional skills directly or indirectly influence various aspects of life and are essential for transforming children into happier adults. They are skills that go beyond mathematics or science and involve teamwork, independence, emotional stability, collectivity and even knowing how to deal with success and frustration, developing self-esteem.
In this sense, technology is a great ally in promoting inclusion — a very important issue for quality education. Learning about other social models, learning to live with differences and improving language skills are some of the benefits of an inclusive education. Today, it is possible to find several technologies that help include students and encourage coexistence.
By using these tools, schools can work on socio-emotional skills in a fun way, through games and play. Digital tables, for example, help develop skills such as logical reasoning, attention, memorization, patience, motor coordination and problem-solving. While having fun, children strengthen and develop emotional, affective and social bonds.
Since digital games capture children’s attention, this interest makes them effective tools for promoting challenges and stimulating skills. Simply interacting with games can make children more observant, curious, committed and focused.
However, for technology to facilitate socio-emotional growth, the resources chosen must have an educational purpose and be inserted into the pedagogical context.
Socioemotional skills are increasingly being discussed and should be encouraged at school, at home and in any environment in which children are inserted. When developed from childhood, they help to form adults who are better prepared to face life’s challenges.