ABSTRACT
As Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is central to early years curriculum, this chapter considers how Australian and international curriculum frameworks describe teaching and learning in this central area of child development. SEL programs are designed to help children gain self-awareness, regulate emotions, manage stress, solve problems responsibly and contribute to the wider community. These include focusing on being mindful of others and the importance of developing understandings of the perspective of others especially in relation to enacting respectful, non-judgemental and tactful attitudes. The chapter contrasts policy approaches, introduces a generic whole school systemic approach, as well as identifying a range of programs that are utilised in various communities across the globe.
