The powers of fostering social and emotional skills

This article describes the large impact of raising children's social and emotional skills on a variety of life outcomes. It shows how family, school and the community can help foster these skills through social and emotional learning. It also argues the challenges of reliably measuring these skills, which limits the evidence-base on â€what works' to enhance social and emotional skills as well as the information education stakeholders can obtain on the distribution and development of social and emotional skills for each student or at the aggregate level. In spite of these challenges, this article argues the importance of measuring the development of social and emotional skills and the associated learning contexts. This information would empower teachers and parents to better address children in need of enhanced social and emotional learning and help them secure success in life and well-being.