What is social-emotional learning in early years?

Social-emotional learning in early years helps children understand emotions, build empathy, and form relationships. It lays the foundation for confidence and academic growth.

How does Keystone support SEL in early years?

Keystone integrates SEL through Reggio Emilia-inspired classrooms, daily reflection, Becoming Sessions, and play-based learning that nurture empathy and self-awareness.

Why is social-emotional learning important for academic success?

Emotional wellbeing helps children focus, cooperate, and persist through challenges. Strong SEL skills directly enhance learning outcomes in all subjects.

Social-Emotional Learning and Academic Success: Why Both Matter

Keystone School
Nov 19
3 min read

Children developing social-emotional learning in early years through reflection and play at Keystone International School.

In the early years, children learn far more than alphabets and numbers.

They learn how to understand emotions, express ideas, share space, and build friendships.

At Keystone International School, we believe that this balance between heart and mind forms the true foundation of education.

That’s why social-emotional learning (SEL) is at the heart of our early years program, guiding every child toward both confidence and curiosity.

What Is Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)?

Social-emotional learning is the process through which children develop self-awareness, empathy, and relationship skills.

In the early years, this looks like:

Learning to take turns and share materials.
Recognizing emotions “I feel happy,” “I feel sad,” “I feel frustrated.”
Calming down after conflict or disappointment.
Expressing needs with kindness and respect.

These moments may seem small, but they shape lifelong habits.

A child who learns to pause, breathe, and express feelings clearly builds the emotional strength to handle challenges later, in school and in life.

Why SEL Comes Before Academic Success

Emotional wellbeing is the soil in which learning grows.

When children feel safe, heard, and valued, their brains are more open to learning new concepts and solving problems.

Research consistently shows that strong SEL skills like self-regulation, empathy, and persistence, directly improve academic outcomes.

At Keystone, we see this every day.

A child who can manage frustration during a puzzle will later approach maths problems with confidence.

A child who listens and shares in a story circle will later thrive in collaborative projects and discussions.

Social-emotional growth is not separate from academics, it enables them.

How Keystone Nurtures Social-Emotional Learning in Early Years

Reggio Emilia-Inspired Classrooms

Our early years program follows the Reggio Emilia approach, which places relationships at the centre of learning.

Teachers act as co-learners; listening, guiding, and modelling empathy.

Every classroom is a space for exploration, collaboration, and emotional connection.

Daily Routines That Build Awareness

Circle time, storytime, and reflection are woven into the day.

Children talk about how they feel, what made them proud, or what they’d like to try again tomorrow.

These small conversations build vocabulary for emotions and confidence in self-expression.

Becoming Sessions for Early Years

Through gentle, age-appropriate activities, children explore kindness, cooperation, and mindfulness.

These Becoming Sessions help them develop empathy and belonging, preparing them emotionally for structured learning later in Cambridge and IB pathways.

Play and Creativity as Emotional Expression

Early years student expressing emotions creatively in Reggio Emilia-inspired classroom.

Art, music, and pretend play are powerful tools for emotional learning.

When children paint, build, or role-play, they’re expressing thoughts and feelings they may not yet have words for.

Teachers guide these moments with curiosity, helping children make sense of their experiences.

The Connection Between SEL and Future Academic Growth

The skills children develop through SEL today become the same skills that define success in global curricula tomorrow.

Early Years SEL Skill	Connection to Later Academic Growth
Self-regulation	Focus and time management in Cambridge & IB tasks
Empathy	Collaboration in group projects
Reflection	TOK, Global Perspectives, and portfolio learning
Confidence	Oral presentations, essays, and leadership roles
Curiosity	Inquiry-based learning and research

At Keystone, emotional growth and intellectual growth evolve together, one nurturing the other.

The Keystone Difference: Heart Before Head

In our early years classrooms, connection always comes before correction.

Teachers begin each day with warmth and attentiveness, knowing that relationships are the foundation of trust and learning.

When a child feels seen, they are ready to explore.

When they feel safe, they are ready to take risks and make mistakes.

This balance of love and learning is what makes Keystone’s early years truly special.

Here, children don’t just learn facts. They learn how to be: kind, reflective, resilient, and confident.

Conclusion

Academic success begins long before exams or textbooks, it begins with emotional security.

At Keystone International School, our Reggio Emilia-inspired early years program integrates social-emotional learning into every moment of the day.

Through reflection, play, and relationships, children grow into learners who are both capable and compassionate, ready for school, and ready for life.

Explore how Keystone’s Reggio Emilia-inspired early years program blends social-emotional learning and academics, nurturing children who are both confident and compassionate learners.