Integrating SEL into your curriculum might feel like just one more thing on your long list if classroom tasks yet helping young children understand their emotions is one of the most valuable investments we can make. SEL during the early years shapes how children communicate, build relationships, solve problems, and navigate challenges throughout their lives. Through everyday classroom routines and creative, playful activities, SEL becomes both meaningful and enjoyable for students.
Below are engaging and developmentally appropriate activities that help young students explore their feelings in a playful, meaningful way.
1.- Musical Emotions Wheel: Exploring Feelings Through Music
The musical emotion wheel is an interactive tool that combines music, visuals, and movement to help children identify and express different emotions. Using familiar children’s songs—such as “If You’re Happy and You Know It”—students connect lyrics and actions to a variety of feelings. Children can create a colourful wheel divided into segments representing emotions like happiness, sadness, frustration, anger, or surprise. As they sing, they spin the wheel or point to the emotion that matches each verse. This transforms emotional learning into a dynamic and joyful experience.
Skills developed:
- Emotional vocabulary
- Self‑awareness
- Recognition of facial expressions and bodily cues
- Confidence in expressing feelings
2.- Emotional Role‑Play: Practicing Empathy and Expression
Role‑playing is a powerful way for children to explore emotions in real‑world scenarios. Using costumes, puppets, dolls, or simple props, students act out different situations—such as feeling left out, solving a disagreement, or sharing exciting news. Role‑play encourages children to experiment with verbal and non‑verbal expression, test problem‑solving strategies, and practice emotional communication in a safe, imaginative environment.
Skills developed:
- Empathy and perspective‑taking
- Language for expressing emotions
- Conflict resolution
- Cooperative play
3.- Reflection Time: Understanding What They Felt and Why
After completing a game or activity, a guided reflection session helps children process what happened. Educators can ask simple, open‑ended questions such as:
“What did you feel during the activity?”
“What helped you manage that feeling?”
“How do you think your classmates felt?”
These conversations deepen students’ emotional understanding and strengthen their ability to express their needs. They also normalize talking about emotions as part of everyday life.
Skills developed:
- Self‑management
- Social awareness
- Emotional communication
- Problem‑solving
4.- Self-Regulation Through Movement
Teach students the benefits of physically “moving through feelings”. Sometimes we just need to take a deep breath, jump, or shake it off! Just a few moments of short movements can help when we need a reset.
Check out our playlist, Exercising our bodies, for fun, guided videos to share with your learners.
Why SEL matters, especially in the pre-primary classroom
Working on SEL has profound benefits for young learners. Through consistent emotional practice, children learn to:
- Identify their emotions accurately
- Understand others’ perspectives
- Express themselves in healthy ways
- Handle challenges with resilience
- Build stronger relationships with peers
A classroom that values emotional well‑being becomes a more positive, collaborative space where children feel secure, heard, and supported. This sense of belonging directly contributes to better learning outcomes and healthier personal development. Nurturing emotional intelligence from the earliest years empowers children to navigate the world with confidence, empathy, and resilience. Through creative activities, like music‑based games, role‑play, and reflective conversations, educators can help young learners understand their emotions and develop essential lifelong skills.
When emotional learning becomes a natural part of daily routines, children grow as students and become compassionate individuals who contribute positively to their communities.
