Equip for Kids
Age-Based Media Reviews for Families
Free. A website of curated media offerings for children from a variety of creators, with a keen eye for social-emotional learning contexts. Covers recommendations of movies, TV, apps, games and books. Also offers substantial readable guidance for parents on managing the media use and media literacy of their children, which differs with the child’s age. Has a coronavirus section. English and Spanish.
Committee for Children – Second Step
Free. Second Step is schools curriculum created by Committee for Children which has been popular among SEL-oriented schools for many years. Families (and educators) can now access Second Step Emotional Management lessons for early learners and Grades K–5 as their response to home confinement. Videos and Lesson Guides feature Committee for Children experienced teachers and counselors. Will soon launch an SEL training for adults (see https://www.secondstepsela.org/).
Cosmic Kids
Free and paid. A playfully presented collection of videos (“3 Little Pigs Yoga,” as one example) guiding yoga sessions for kids, along with yoga games, mindfulness for kids videos, and readable parent guidance. There is an app available containing much of their offerings. The parenting section provides helpful blogs covering home teaching of gratitude, compassion, positivity and relaxation.
Emotional Intelligence Toolkit
Free. Basically, a mental health and wellness website for adults that offers what it calls an Emotional Intelligence Toolkit that parents will find helpful in managing themselves. It’s well done guidance that includes such topics as quick stress relief, improving emotional intelligence, and building better mental health.
How to use the Khan Academy Kids app
Free. Famous for its easy to grasp and often playful ways of teaching core subjects and inspiring interest in other learning, both in schools and at home. Khan Academy also embeds social emotional learning in its daily class structure and has a section of its free app for home use devoted to the subject. Dominantly ages 2 to 7. Available in many languages, including English and Spanish.
COVID-19: LIVE SEL Webinars with Dr. Sean Holland
Free. Among the more successful in-school social-emotional learning curriculum providers; adopted by many schools. Offers an ongoing new series of webinars for parenting in the coronavirus era. Also is developing a home parenting social-emotional learning website section drawing on its popular in-school programs.
True Connection
Free for your first 30 days. A program for 7-12 year-olds adopted in a number of schools and chapters of Boys and Girls Club, among others. Elements that work at home are now available for families. The umbrella subject matters, “Overcoming Fear” and “Love in Action,” cover a lot of SEL territory with videos, print materials and art guidance. Also offer an adult section with videos covering emotional triggers and what they call “7 Levels of Energy,” plus a 5-minute mediation and a 5-minute breathing exercise to relieve stress.
Developing Social-Emotional Skills
Free. This is parent/child social-emotional learning in three different age categories: 0 to 12 months, 12 to 24 months and 24 to 36 months. Offers plentiful skills and mindsets curriculum that parents can teach their children. Also provides guidance for parents in dealing with other elements of their child’s development and family life (with some bonus guidance for grandparents). Has a coronavirus help section.