In today’s increasingly tech-focused world, developing children’s social and emotional skills is just as important as developing their academic abilities. 

Social and emotional learning (SEL) has gained considerable attention in recent years, and for good reason. Integrating SEL into the classroom empowers students to break out of their digital bubbles and enter the real world. By replacing digital devices and screen time with more primitive objects like paintbrushes, paper mâché, or charcoal, arts education allows students to develop self-awareness, establish interpersonal relationships, and practice responsible decision-making. 

While art certainly has academic applications, it also has a unique ability to tap into our emotions. Not only does it encourage self-expression; it also promotes social interactions. Combining social and emotional learning with artistic experiences gives students the freedom to explore their feelings, develop empathy, and practice relationship-building skills. 

The Benefits of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Through Art

Social and emotional learning encompasses a wide range of skills that contribute to success in school, work, and life. Whether it is self-awareness, social awareness, responsible decision-making, self-management, or building relationship skills, when we integrate SEL into arts education, we contribute to students’ overall development in a way that makes the process effortless and fun.

Art activities provide a natural platform for students to explore and express their emotions. By creating art, students process complex feelings and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and others. This self-awareness is a key component to acquiring the social and emotional skills that lead to empathy and the formation of healthy relationships. In addition, positive experiences with art in a safe space at an early age can make all the difference for art appreciation and expression into adulthood.  

Arts integration in SEL also helps students develop critical thinking skills and encourages them to see things from different perspectives. Students learn to manage their emotions and control their impulses as they engage in the creative process. These types of skills profoundly impact academic success, emotional well-being, and the long-term ability to participate positively in conversations and society.

Art-based SEL activities also engender social awareness and relationship skills. Collaborative art projects, for example, require students to work together, communicate effectively, and build relationships with their peers. Through these cooperative experiences, students develop the social and emotional skills necessary to maintain positive relationships throughout their lives.

Art Activities for Different Age Groups

Young Children (Ages 3-6)

For younger learners, simple yet engaging art activities can be effective in promoting social and emotional learning:

1) Emotional Finger Painting

Encourage students to express specific emotions through colors and patterns, which can help them develop self-awareness.

2) Friendship Collage

Ask children to create collages representing their friendships, which will help elevate their social awareness.

3) Storytelling with Puppets

Show students how to create puppets and then ask them to use them to tell stories. This helps them build empathy and communication skills.

These activities help young children process emotions, develop awareness, and begin to understand social interactions.

Elementary School Children (Ages 7-11)

As students grow, introduce more complex art activities to further develop their social and emotional skills. These can include:

1) Nature Art Mandalas

Ask students to collect natural materials and create mandalas to acquaint them with mindfulness and stress management concepts.

2) Emotion Marks

Ask children to create masks representing the different emotions they may be feeling. This will help them identify their feelings and express them constructively.

3) Collaborative Mural

To promote teamwork and build relationship skills, have the whole class work together on a large mural. Make sure the murals focus on teamwork concepts. For example, a “Kindness Tree” mural might involve students adding leaves that include acts of kindness they’ve witnessed or performed. 

These projects encourage students to explore their emotions more deeply while also focusing on building positive relationships with others.

Middle and High School (Ages 12-18)

For older students, art activities can address more complex social and emotional challenges:

1) Mindset Zines

For this activity, students create mini magazines showcasing their emotional mindsets, which help promote self-awareness and self-expression.

2) Current Events Artwork

Encourage students to create art pieces addressing current events, which helps develop social awareness and responsible decision-making skills.

3) Emotion Photography

Students capture photos representing specific emotions they’ve experienced or are experiencing. This exercise can help tweens and teenagers process and understand the complex feelings they may be experiencing.

These activities help older students develop a stronger sense of self, engage with topical events, and prepare for the emotional challenges of adulthood.

Implementing SEL Activities in the Art Room and Beyond

To successfully integrate social and emotional learning into art education, consider the following strategies:

1) Encourage Reflection

After each art activity, guide students through a reflection process. Ask questions like, “How did this activity make you feel?” or “What did you learn about yourself or others?”

2) Teach Emotional Vocabulary

Help students identify and name their emotions. This can be done by creating an “emotion color wheel” or discussing the emotions portrayed in famous artwork.

3) Incorporate Mindfulness

Begin art classes with short mindfulness exercises to help students maintain focus and manage stress.

4) Connect Art to Real-Life

Help students see how the skills they’re learning through art apply to other areas of their lives. The connection between art and math is a good example of this. 

5) Collaborate with Other Teachers or Instructors

Work with other educators to integrate art-based SEL activities into different subjects, thereby reinforcing social and emotional skills across the curriculum.

The Lasting Impact of Art-Based Social and Emotional Learning

Every brush stroke, every sculpture, and every other artistic expression represents an opportunity for students to grow. After all, education isn’t just about developing young academics; it’s also about developing young minds. 

Remember to treat your student’s work like the piece of art it is and give it the appropriate respect and recognition. Art is very personal and there’s a difference between skill building and expression. When it comes to art-based social and emotional learning, expression is the key to lasting impact.  

Integrating social and emotional learning into arts education provides students with valuable tools for navigating life’s challenges. These artistic experiences not only help them create beautiful works of art but also enable them to draw on these experiences to become engaged citizens who approach complex issues with creativity and understanding and ultimately contribute positively to their communities.

For more information on implementing social and emotional learning through art, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter and check out our blog posts on exposing your family to art and teaching art at home.