WHY BEING EMPATHETIC IS CRUCIAL TO RECONNECTING WITH OTHERS
The past year has been isolating for many. Less time with colleagues, classmates and loved ones can make us lose sight of the community around us. We have lost human interactions that make us feel a part of something. We all want to belong and have a purpose, and that starts at a young age. This has been tough without routine social interactions we once took for granted.
Increasingly, school districts are focusing on social emotional learning, which is the process of developing skills that involve how to manage emotions, achieve goals, show empathy, build relationships and make responsible decisions. Now is the time to take advantage of activities that encourage social emotional learning skills, which in turn create a sense of belonging, even when students are alone or 6 feet apart. Here are some things to keep in mind at this moment as we all start reconnecting with other people.
People may be out of practice with interpersonal skills. Relationship skills have been lost, and it’s now time to start rebuilding. Young children need to learn the fundamentals of bonding and sharing well before attending school. Classrooms, camps, playdates and time with extended family members help to nurture these skills. However, these gatherings have been significantly reduced, or even nonexistent, for many of us over the past year. When students return to school after being home during this time, regaining interpersonal skills may not be as easy as riding a bike. Students need guidance on the importance of these skills, and an opportunity to learn from positive role models that encourage and support strong interpersonal skills. This is necessary for building meaningful relationships.
Uncertain times make for unanticipated emotions. As a parent, I’ve witnessed and experienced myriad emotions over the last year. When my kindergartner was invited to meet with her teacher in person for the first time, I couldn’t wait to see her face when she would finally step foot on campus. As we approached the school, she froze and told me she was scared. When I looked down and saw the tears running down her face, I realized that I hadn’t yet recognized she could experience social anxiety. Learning to identify our emotions and developing the skills to manage them sets us up for success with all things in life, including our first day of kindergarten.
Empathy for those around us is essential. We cannot understand exactly how people have been impacted emotionally by this pandemic; we simply don’t know. Owning that uncertainty allows us to be more open and non-judgmental towards others so we can empathize with them. As our children return to school, the normal behavior we would expect to see will be different. Social emotional learning acts as a vehicle to help understand and respond to the emotions and experiences of others. Teaching empathy creates a more supportive environment. Not only is this important today, but it is a virtue that should always be taught.
Responsible decision-making has lasting effects. As social creatures who are impacted by collective and individual actions, it is on all of us to make responsible decisions best for everyone. This involves several steps: identifying the problem, analyzing the situation, solving the problem while considering our ethical responsibility, and finally evaluating and reviewing our decision. These can be taught so decisions we make are carefully thought out and not just an impulse. We all have a mix of emotions right now. This leads to challenges in decision-making. Giving students the tools necessary to make responsible decisions is essential. The hope is lessons learned today will be carried throughout life; getting this right now will set future generations up for success.
Prejudices and biases must be examined. This past year has hit certain communities harder than others. We have realized society’s implicit biases and must learn how to be understanding and respectful of those across all walks of life. Social emotional learning can address different types of inequity and empower us to create learning spaces that foster safe, healthy and just environments. Schools are more than a space for academic learning. They are places that rebalance inequities, from having a suitable learning environment with adequate tools to providing healthy meals that would otherwise be missed.
We are in this together. What we have seen this year is the importance of whole child wellness. We are part of a community of educators and caregivers and all have an impact on future generations’ lives. Our different insights and perspectives allow us to understand, experience, inform and support the social and emotional development of students.
This past year has highlighted the importance of social emotional learning and the fact that incorporating social emotional learning in schools should have been prioritized all along. As we consider how to catch up on the unfinished learning that has compounded, social emotional learning should be at the forefront of educators’ minds.