Celebrate Social-Emotional Learning!
Today is National SEL Day! At movemindfully, we are exploring embodied SEL. Embodied SEL describes felt-learning versus purely cognitive learning.
When we add a focus on what is happening within our bodies to our exploration of CASEL competencies like self-awareness and self-management, we can internalize and generalize important SEL skills.
We often experience a physical symptom, like a stomachache, headache, or sweaty palms before we can identify the emotion we are feeling. Embodiment is also important because unlike prescribed learning, each of us “feels” our emotions differently based on our own lived experience.
By learning to pause, check-in, and identify what they are feeling in their own body, children/youth can embody SEL skills.
There is no one right way to pause, identify what we are feeling, and self-regulate. Our minds and bodies are very smart, and we can all learn skills to support us as we navigate our physical and emotional responses to the joys and challenges of each day.
movemindfullyBreathe Move Rest practices build in opportunities to pause, check in, and practice strategies for embodied SEL.