SEL Guidance: Leading Today for Tomorrow

We develop social and emotional skills throughout our entire lives. As children’s first teachers, parents and caregivers play an important role in teaching and demonstrating these skills through conversations and interactions.

Access our SEL conversation guidance to help your child or young person build on their interests and strengths. We hope this guidance will inspire rich discussions that help them see how they can lead.

Pre-K-K Grades 1-5

Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12

Fill out this form and we’ll email you SEL resources customized for your child’s grade level.

Resources for Caring Adults

Share this curated collection of resources and tools from CASEL and leading partners with other caring adults. By working together, we can support the learning, development, and experiences of all young people.

SEL Discussion Series for Parents and Caregivers

(CASEL, 2017)

This 10-session discussion series supports schools and community partners that wish to engage parents and caregivers in conversations about the social and emotional growth of their families. Available in English and in Spanish.

Building Positive Conditions for Learning at Home: Strategies and Resources for Families and Caregivers

(American Institutes for Research, 2020)

Tools for parents to foster emotional health and well-being within their homes. Available in English and Spanish.

Social and Emotional Learning Around the Clock

(Confident Parents, Confident Kids, 2020)

Specific ways that families can build rituals and routines into their day with special notation for those which are coping with the busiest, most consuming parenting schedules.

Notes from the Backpack Podcast

(National PTA)

A new podcast episode, offering an SEL introduction for families who aren’t familiar or who are eager to learn more about what it looks like in practice.

SEL in Digital Life Resource Center

(Common Sense Media, 2021)

A collection of quick activities, family conversation starters, and more that will help you promote social and emotional learning as your students navigate the digital world.

Social and Emotional Learning 101 Video for Parents

(CASEL, 2017)

The video aims to inform parents on SEL in schools and provide them with insights on SEL in their own parenting practices.

Use Books to Spark Heart-to-Heart Conversations

(Big Heart World)

Curated book lists in which partner organizations of Big Heart World recommend books related to different SEL themes — from friendship to feelings.

Parenting for Competence, Parenting with Competence; Essential Connections between Parenting and Social and Emotional Learning

(Jennifer S. Miller, Shannon B. Wanless, and Roger P. Weissberg, 2018)

Research brief to examine connections between the field of school-based SEL and SEL in parenting.