[Aperte o play] - Socio and Emotional Skills

[ SOCIO AND EMOTIONAL SKILLS ]

By Daniela Lyra

Aperte o PLAY+ brings together two powerful approaches: the Sankofa philosophy and the socio-emotional principles of CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning). Our mission is to provide children with an education that not only motivates them intellectually but also deeply connects them to their roots, promotes pride in their identity, and equips them to face the challenges of the world with emotional competence.

The African philosophy Sankofa, represented by the bird that looks backward while moving forward, reminds us of the importance of recognizing and learning from the past. For children, this means exploring their ethnic histories and identities, understanding that their roots are an endless source of identity, belonging, and community.

Image: Wikipedia - Credits: sankofa global project

Widely recognized for its comprehensive approach to socio-emotional learning, CASEL represents a solid guide for developing critical competencies such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Associating CASEL with the Sankofa philosophy can be an interesting starting point to encourage children to build healthy racial relationships that prepare them for a diverse and complex world.

Inspired by the revolutionary vision of Dra. Gholdy Muhammad, we are faced with a call to rethink Early Childhood Education. Muhammad argues that joy, defined as the practice of loving oneself and humanity, should be the pulsating heart of our curriculum. For her, joy manifests itself in self-care, assistance to humanity and our planet, appreciation of true beauty and aesthetics, and commitment to solving urgent social issues. This perspective is crucial in Early Childhood Education as it cultivates self-love, empathy for others, and concern for the world around them from the earliest years of development.

¹ Author of "Unearthing Joy: a Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning" [2022].

This perception translated into an evolution from the Aperte o PLAY framework to the Aperte o PLAY+ framework:

Myself

Self-Care :

Purpose + Identity

Here, reflecting the Sankofa philosophy, we encourage children to look inward, recognizing their unique stories and identities as sources of strength and joy.

Myself and the others

Taking Care of Others:

Belonging + Ancestry

This layer concerns the recognition of the richness of personal and collective narratives, emphasizing the appreciation of diverse representations of identity.

Myselft and the world

Taking Care of the Community:

Impact on Your Context

Aligned with the approach of solving social problems, here we encourage the little ones to see themselves as active members of their community, capable of promoting positive changes and shared happiness.

Next, let's press PLAY (Apertar o PLAY) once again. There are 8 stories, five of which are 100% original stories, created by our team, and three are in the public domain – we adapted them so that we can tell them to young children. The stories 'stretch' into didactic sequences that promote collective play and creation, offering contextualized opportunities for engagement so that black children feel welcomed, heard, represented, and valued.

For each circle of the framework, a set of stories works within its context and focus.

Image: Istock - Credits: eggeeggjiew

We prioritize narratives that emphasize specific skills and socio-emotional aspects while, at the same time, they celebrate black identity and promote children's self-esteem, encouraging them to see themselves as powerful beings. This approach not only enriches education but also contributes to the formation of conscious, empowered individuals capable of building a more inclusive and equitable world.