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9 General SEL Activities Talk During Books & Movies (all ages)
Time: 1-2minutes
Purpose: To help develop SEL skills and connect those to whatever they are invested in.
For younger kids Daniel Tiger is a great SEL show!
Things You Love About Them (all ages) Time: 2-3minutes
Purpose: To develop confidence, empathy and helpful self-talk. This also nurtures connection and trust and helps them learn to accept praise.
Instructions: Find a quiet moment and ask your child, “Would you like me to tell you some of the things I love about you?” Have them sit close.
List off not only their wonderful qualities, but also their efforts, their acts of kindness, their good choices, anything special about them, etc. This helps them know that their efforts are recognized and helps them feel heard and worthy. This doesn’t have to be lengthy.
Nothing! (all ages) Time: VariableJ
Purpose: To grow in emotional regulation, problem solving and confidence. You want your child to learn to tolerate discomfort.
Instructions: Do nothing. Yep. It’s that easy and that difficult all at the same time. Have your child fill their own time. Children need to learn how to tolerate uncomfortable emotions, and boredom is one of the easiest places to start. Boredom is the beginning of creativity J. If this is difficult for you, find something to do that doesn’t involve them—cooking, cleaning, reading a book, anything!
Instructions: While reading a book or watching a movie/show, stop throughout to process what is
going on. This does not need to be lengthy. You can stop to explain a word, a feeling, a situation, etc. If
possible, connect what is happening in the book/movie to your child’s life. The information is more
likely to stick if it’s linked to his/her own experiences. If you don’t want to talk during shows/movies,
process the content afterwardsJ.
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