In a rapidly evolving educational landscape, social-emotional learning (SEL) has become a crucial aspect of modern teaching. SEL focuses on cultivating skills such as empathy, resilience, emotional regulation, and social interaction among students. It acknowledges that education is not merely about academics; it’s also about forming well-rounded individuals capable of navigating the challenges of life. Here are the top six products currently being used in classrooms worldwide to foster emotional intelligence and facilitate SEL.
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SUMMARY LIST:
- A Little Spot of Emotions Box Set – Plush Toy Set: A comprehensive toy set featuring plush toys representing different emotions, aimed at helping children understand and express their emotions effectively.
- Learning Resources Feelings & Emotions Puzzle Cards: A set of double-sided puzzles designed to help children identify and understand their emotions by matching words and emoji-style faces with pictures of those feelings in action.
- 52 Essential Conversations – Social Emotional Learning Activities & Cards for Kids: A set of conversation cards that prompt insightful discussions, foster empathy, and build social-emotional skills among kids.
- Learning Resources Big Feelings Pineapple – Social Emotional Learning Toy: A two-sided toy pineapple that serves as an interactive educational tool for children to identify and explore feelings.
- CHEFAN Feelings Chart – Autism Visual Behavior Management Tool: An educational chart that encourages kids to understand and articulate their feelings and emotions in a constructive manner. Suitable for use in classrooms, homes, or daycare settings.
- Hand2Mind Express Your Feelings Sensory Bottles – Play Therapy Toys: Sensory bottles that serve as fun, interactive tools for kids to identify and express their emotions, doubling as sensory fidget toys.
Product link: A Little SPOT of Emotions Box Set – Plush Toy Set
Diane Alber’s “A Little SPOT of Emotions Box Set – Plush Toy Set” is a noteworthy product aimed at assisting children in understanding and expressing their emotions. Each plush toy in the set represents a different emotion, and the package comes with a Bonus Learning SPOT and an activity book filled with stickers and coloring pages. This set has received high praise from customers for its impact in fostering social-emotional learning among young learners.
| What The Reviews Said |
|---|
| “…so perfect! This was my book for the month… good for adults, too!… I’d use this for inspiration… I will treasure this.” |
| “…SPOT box set and activity book… am an elementary school counselor… My students LOVE the SPOT books and activities… Developing emotional regulation for young learners… more needed then ever.” |
| “…OBSESSED with all of the creations by Diane… I am a school counselor… When I told them about these new spot plushies coming out, they were ecstatic!… Thank you Diane for creating such fun products!!!” |
Product link: Learning Resources Feelings & Emotions Puzzle Cards
The “Feelings & Emotions Puzzle Cards” by Learning Resources is a product designed to facilitate social-emotional learning for kids as young as three years old. This set includes 24 double-sided puzzles, each designed to help children identify and understand their emotions by matching emotion words and emoji-style faces with pictures of those feelings in action. The puzzles are self-correcting, ensuring there’s only one right answer to each, allowing children to focus on understanding their emotions without the added stress of potential errors.
| What The Reviews Said |
|---|
| “…Successful tool… I work with children and it helps with body language emotional awareness.” |
| “…Great visuals… appropriate for 2-5 yrs of age… helps children identify, name and express their emotions!” |
| “…Love that there are pictures of real kids… excited to use these with my son who has autism… easier for him to understand the emotions by seeing a real person instead of always a cartoon figure.” |
Product link: 52 Essential Conversations – Social Emotional Learning Activities & Cards for Kids
The “52 Essential Conversations” set is a collection of engaging prompts and activities designed to build a growth mindset, boost emotional intelligence, and improve self-control and cooperation. Developed by a Harvard educator, it has been recognized by institutions such as Harvard University and the Parents’ Choice Awards for its impact in enhancing learning and strengthening relationships. Users laud it as a versatile tool, useful for various scenarios, from family dinners to therapy sessions, and it’s portable, packaged in a sturdy tin box. It includes podcast lessons and online assessments for tracking progress.
| What The Reviews Said |
|---|
| “…Pocket-sized tips for being a grounded human… The questions made me pause… explore and ask the “why” questions… mainstay in my household…” |
| “…Great for opening up communication with family… teaches my young 8 yo kiddo social emotional skills… forces us to open up communication as a family… Life saver.” |
| “…Fantastic Resource for Teachers and Parents… provide great lessons including social skills, problem solving and building relationships… I can already see the benefits with my class and family.” |
| “…Valuable for teaching social skills… Very good convo starters…” |
Product Link: Learning Resources Big Feelings Pineapple – Social Emotional Learning Toy
Learning Resources’ “Big Feelings Pineapple” is an interactive toy designed to help preschoolers learn social-emotional skills through play. This set includes a two-sided pineapple and 26 different face pieces, allowing children to explore a range of emotions from smiles to frowns. Whether at home or in the classroom, the Big Feelings Pineapple fosters understanding of emotions, aids in body awareness, and enhances motor skills development. Its handy design allows for easy storage of all pieces within the pineapple itself, ensuring a tidy play area.
| What The Reviews Said |
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| “…Kids love it… They use it to express various feelings through play… it’s kid approved!” |
| “…Well-designed, Quality Toy… has the potential for learning emotions through play… pieces are made from a rubbery feeling plastic… great quiet toy for waiting rooms, airplanes, or church…” |
| “…Baby tested & loved!… a great toy to encourage imagination and small motor development…” |
Product Link: CHEFAN Feelings Chart – Autism Visual Behavior Management Tool
The CHEFAN Feelings Chart – Autism Visual Behavior Management Tool is a visual behavior management tool, designed to aid students in expressing their feelings and needs. It serves as a valuable asset for preschool and kindergarten teachers, daycare providers, and parents alike. The set comes with 19 feelings felt cards and 19 activities felt cards, all stored in a convenient felt background board or folder. This resource is highly recommended for special education or inclusion classrooms, and initially designed with students with autism in mind. However, it’s versatility allows for use with any student who struggles to articulate their feelings or needs. Despite its benefits, customers have indicated some issues with storage, as the number of tiles can make it challenging to locate the specific ones you need. Regardless, reviews reflect an overall positive feedback, appreciating the impact this tool has on children’s ability to communicate their emotions effectively.
| What The Reviews Said |
|---|
| “…Very helpful… a good way to help [my autistic daughter] communicate what’s wrong and how to help her…” |
| “…Great idea, not enough storage space… has a good selection of feelings to choose from, and some of the needs are pretty helpful…” |
| “…Love love love this!!!!… it is awesome! I wish there were some different pictures available for it but for the most part it is working great!!!” |
Product Link: Hand2Mind Express Your Feelings Sensory Bottles – Play Therapy Toys
The Hand2Mind Express Your Feelings Sensory Bottles – Play Therapy Toys are therapeutic play toys designed to aid children in identifying and understanding their feelings. The set includes four easy-to-grip, securely sealed bottles representing different emotions – happiness, anger, fear, and sadness. Each bottle not only represents a specific emotion but also features a unique color and interactive element that corresponds to that emotion. The set also comes with an activity guide encouraging children to engage in discussions about their emotions and respond to them positively.
Conclusion: Each of these products serves a unique role in helping children understand, express, and manage their emotions in a constructive and healthy way. The “A Little Spot of Emotions Box Set – Plush Toy Set” uses plush toys to create a tangible connection with emotions, while the “Learning Resources Feelings & Emotions Puzzle Cards:” and “52 Essential Conversations – Social Emotional Learning Activities & Cards for Kids” cards help children to articulate and identify emotions through interactive and educational activities. The “Learning Resources Big Feelings Pineapple – Social Emotional Learning Toy” provides a visual and interactive approach to exploring feelings. The “CHEFAN Feelings Chart – Autism Visual Behavior Management Tool” serves as a visual aid for children to express their emotions, particularly useful in educational settings. Lastly, the “Hand2Mind Express Your Feelings Sensory Bottles – Play Therapy Toys” offers a sensory-based method of identifying and expressing feelings. Together, these products cover a wide range of methods and approaches to support children’s social-emotional learning and development.
