How To Teach Self-Awareness to Kids

Teaching self-awareness to our kids is essential in developing their social emotional learning skills. Social emotional learning is the current buzzword in the education world but what exactly does it mean? According to Be The Change, “social emotional learning (SEL) is the process of learning social skills and self-awareness, emotional management, responsible decision making, and relationship skills that students need to succeed in every area and stage of their lives.”

Research shows that by teaching students the 8 components of social emotional learning, students will have better academic success, better emotional regulation and will be overall more happy and healthy.

8 Components of Social Emotional Learning

Self awareness
Self-management
Social-awareness
Relationship skills
Goal-directed behavior
Personal responsibility
Decision making
Optimistic thinking

This post focuses solely on self-awareness and ways we can strengthen this in our students.

5 Ways to Strengthen Self-Awareness in Kids

Being self-aware is being intune with your feelings and emotions and how these impact your actions.

You understand how other people may see you while being aware of your strengths and challenges.

Self-awareness skills can be taught through engaging in both intrapersonal and interpersonal activities. Here is a list of 6 ways to strengthen self-awareness in the classroom.

1. Meditate

When most people think of meditation they think of sitting criss cross apple sauce with their hands on their knees, eyes closed, and listening to some sort of guide. However, this isn’t always the case! There are 3 main ways of integrating meditation throughout your day:

responsive meditation
preparatory meditation
mindfulness meditation.

Check out my post all of meditation and ways you can incorporate these 3 types of mediation into your classroom!

2. Gratitude

You can express gratitude in so many different and unique ways!

Gratitude prompts or journals are an easy way for students to reflect on what they are thankful for each week or day.

Create an appreciation circle with your students. Circle the students up either at their desks or on the floor so that they are facing one another. Tell the students that we are going to show gratitude to ourselves and each other.

In a popcorn style format, each student shares what and who they are thankful for. Doing this activity popcorn styles allows students who are not as comfortable to share an opportunity to just listen and hopefully in time, become empowered! This is a trauma informed approach to this practice.

You could also have an appreciation circle during dinner with your family! Go around the table and tell each other what you are grateful for each day.

3. Vision Board

Vision boards are a creative way to visually display goals. Allowing students to tap into their creative side gives them the opportunity to express their emotions and needs in a different way.

Provide old magazines, stickers, and a space for your students to create.

Keep their vision boards at their lockers or hung somewhere throughout the classroom. These visual boards serve as inspiration and can help motivate them throughout their school day.

4. Create Goals

As educators, we are always focusing on the goals we have for our class and individual students. Empower your students by allowing them to create and reflect on personal goals. This type of activity will surely improve the self-awareness in your kids.

Make short term goals to start each day and long term goals for specific units.

Check out Big Life Journal for ways to incorporate goal setting into your day.

5. Yoga (FREE resource included)

As a certified yoga instructor, I am always looking for ways to include yoga throughout my day. Research shows that yoga has so many physical and emotional benefits but one specific benefit is how it strengthens our self-awareness.

Yoga allows you to look within, focusing on the breath, mind, body connection.

You can incorporate yoga poses at the beginning of the school day, before an exam, as a movement break and so many other ways.

Download a free front and back copy of my yoga pose cards to incorporate throughout the school day.

Final Words on Self-Awareness for Kids

Helping our students to develop a stronger sense of self-awareness sets them up for success. By incorporating these social emotional learning activities into the classroom, you will surely see a difference in your students and the way they see themselves and others.