Über das Projekt

In a world that is changing quickly and becoming more diverse, social and emotional skills play a key role in how children adapt to their surroundings. EduSkills+ SEL is built on a clear conviction: these skills should be learned early, and the adults who support children need practical tools to teach them with confidence.

The project is developing free, tested and easy-to-access materials for kindergarten teachers focused on Social and Emotional Learning. The approach combines online guidelines with activity plans and ready-to-use materials, with a strong emphasis on outdoor activities and early media education. Information on SEL is also prepared for parents. All materials are available in Croatian, English, German, Italian, and Slovenian.

The primary target group is kindergarten teachers across Europe, with children and parents as important secondary audiences. The work has been shaped by practice from the start: an early survey of kindergarten teachers, with 307 participants, was used to understand needs and preferences before the materials were finalised.

From frameworks to kindergarten-friendly practice

Before activities could be developed, a shared understanding was established of how social and emotional learning should be approached in a kindergarten context. Two widely used frameworks, CASEL and the European LifeComp framework, were compared and translated into clear, kindergarten-appropriate learning outcomes and a coherent content structure.

One key creative decision that emerged from this process was to use a narrative approach. This is built around a central character, supported by recurring rituals and moments for reflection. The aim is to embed social and emotional learning into the everyday rhythm of kindergarten life, rather than treating it as a separate or isolated topic.

All materials were developed collaboratively by researchers and practitioners, tested in real kindergarten settings, and refined based on feedback from educators and children.

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