---
title: What is social-emotional learning?
description: See how social-emotional learning programs help kids build self-awareness and interpersonal skills. Read about SEL in schools and how SEL skills affect academics.
slug: social-emotional-learning-what-you-need-to-know
author: Alexis Clark, MA, MS
reviewer: Lynne Kenney, PsyD
published: '2019-08-05T15:11:29.896Z'
thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/2UGTiScF4luJqV5ekDYNZ3/2e0bf996e1a5a337ca18d8d1d8b3bd1a/G22299489351.jpg
source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/social-emotional-learning-what-you-need-to-know
lang: en
---

# What is social-emotional learning?

Do you ever have trouble setting goals or making decisions? What about coping with emotions? Or getting along with — and feeling empathy for — others? These are all important social and emotional skills. And some schools are explicitly teaching them to kids.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing and using social and emotional skills. (You also may hear SEL referred to as *socio-emotional learning* or *social-emotional literacy*.)

People with strong social-emotional skills are better equipped to manage daily challenges, build positive relationships, and make informed decisions. SEL helps students and* *adults thrive in school and in life. And the skills can be taught and learned from preschool all the way through adulthood.

That’s important because people aren’t born knowing how to manage emotions, solve problems, and get along with others. These kinds of skills have to be developed, and schools can help students learn them. It’s also important to know that some students may need targeted supports to fully benefit from SEL.

See an expert explain what SEL is and what it can look like in school.

---

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