Ten SEL Myths Exposed!

Take a moment to reconsider the validity of these top 10 misplaced notions regarding a healthy happy outlook.

1) People need a reason (a diagnosis, a problem, an extreme life change) to go to therapy. 
Maybe, but everyone can benefit from therapy in some way.  Think of it as a self-tune-up!

2) The more extracurriculars child participates in, the happier he or she will be. 
Better yet, balance is key! Overscheduling your child can have its negative effects as well including burnout, chronic illness, loss of creativity and other issues. Take a read: 

 3) Loneliness can only be felt when you are by yourself. 
Of course not. You can be in a room full of people and feel perfectly lonely. Loneliness is not synonymous with being alone; it is a feeling of feeling detached and lacking meaningful social connections around you. 

 4) My child needs more friends. 
Really? Think about the “why” here. Children don’t need many friends. Sometimes having a few solid authentic relationships can do the trick. Quality over quantity is very favorable. 

 5) My child is a good kid. He's smart and kind. He shouldn’t struggle so much socially. 
Human nature is complex. Just because your child is an A student and the apple of the teacher's eye, doesn’t mean he or she is not experiencing social challenges. In fact, 

 6) Social-emotional learning is only about teaching kids to manage their feelings.
It’s not that simplistic.  SEL also covers topics such as social awareness, relationship skills, and decision-making.

 7) Social and emotional skills are not as important as academic skills.
Don’t believe it for a minute. More than 1 in 3 high school students had experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2019, a 40 percent increase since 2009. In 2019, approximately 1 in 6 youth reported making a suicide plan in the past year, a 44% increase since 2009. 

 8) Kids learn social and emotional skills automatically.
False: These skills are not innate and need to be learned and reinforced by parents, teachers, and other professionals. 

 9) There is only one way to cover social-emotional learning.
Everyone is unique. It is important to tailor SEL to the needs of a student including family dynamic, cultural background, socioeconomic status, and many other factors. 

 10) Social-emotional learning is only for children who suffer from behavioral issues.
Nope! It can be beneficial for EVERYONE — people of all ages and abilities.