Megan Thorson is a county 4-H program coordinator with the University of Minnesota Extension Service for Freeborn County.

What is social and emotional learning?

Social and emotional learning includes learning to be aware of and manage emotions, work well with others, and persevere when faced with challenges. 4-H

develops SEL skills by creating opportunities for young people to engage in real-world projects, work in teams, take on meaningful roles, face challenges and experience the accompanying emotional ups and downs along the way.

Is social and emotional learning new to 4-H?

Social and emotional learning has been a part of 4-H since the program began as corn and cooking clubs, but it hasn’t been until recent years where we’ve put a name to it. Some skills of SEL include active listening, conflict resolution, understanding others’ feelings, accepting others, responsibility, determination, goal setting, self-reliance, perseverance, leadership, time management, empathy and teamwork. All these skills are ones we’ve been intentionally teaching in 4-H for years.

Why focus on social and emotional learning?

Social and emotional learning provides a foundation for safe and positive learning, and enhances young people’s abilities to succeed in school,careers and life.

What does SEL look like in 4-H?

Youth are comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings with others through self-awareness. At a club meeting youth are able to make motions, discuss these motions or do a project talk. They also have a chance to talk with the judge about a project at the county fair. Youth learn how to communicate with peers and caring adults. Youth are willing to consider the ideas of others even if they are different than their own.

Connections

Youth work well with other youth and have a chance to build those relationships with other caring adults and peers. Youth have adults in their life who care about them/are interested in their success, which are relationship skills.

Positive choices

4-H youth have a chance to set goals for themselves and have a plan for reaching their goals. Youth can change their plan when needed or figure out why a project didn’t work out the way it did. They also have many chances to make choices for what they want to do in their club or personally which projects they want to learn more about.

Make contributions

Youth have talents they can offer to others and have chances to expand their leadership skills either by becoming an ambassador, camp counselor, leading a game at a meeting, becoming a club or a county officer (Leadership). Youth have a chance to work on projects that make a difference in their community.