Empowering educators to nurture every child's potential

Welcome to Growing Together, a dedicated resource hub for teachers and early childhood educators seeking practical, supportive, and developmentally appropriate classroom strategies. Discover insights designed to help you make thoughtful decisions in teaching, assessment, and family engagement.

Resources for holistic early education

Explore specialized guidance tailored to support every aspect of early childhood development and effective classroom management.

EARLY EXPERIENCES MATTER

Social and emotional development begins earlier than many people realize. Experiences during pregnancy and the first years of life can influence how children later respond to stress, build relationships, regulate emotions, and interact with the world around them.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD

Early childhood is filled with rapid social and emotional growth. Children are learning that other people have feelings and ideas that may be different from their own. They are also becoming more independent while still depending on adults for guidance and co-regulation.

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MIDDLE CHILDHOOD

During middle childhood, relationships with peers become increasingly important. Children are more aware of social expectations and begin comparing themselves with others.

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ADOLESCENCE

Adolescence brings major social, emotional, physical, and cognitive changes. Young people are developing a stronger sense of identity while also seeking greater independence.

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Welcome to Growing Together

Social and emotional learning is part of almost everything children do. It can be seen when a preschooler learns to take turns, when an elementary student works through a disagreement with a friend, or when a teenager learns how to cope with stress in a healthy way.

As educators, we have an important opportunity to help children develop these skills. Social and emotional development does not happen only during a lesson about feelings. It develops through everyday relationships, classroom routines, conversations, play, problem-solving, and the way adults respond when children are having a difficult moment.

Social and emotional competence helps children understand emotions, build relationships, manage behavior, solve problems, and participate successfully in learning. These abilities are closely connected with children's readiness for school and later success (Blair & Raver, 2015; Denham et al., 2012).

This website looks at social and emotional development across early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. It also includes classroom ideas, self-regulation strategies, and practical ways families can continue supporting these skills at home.

A Thought for Teachers

One of the most meaningful things we can give children is a classroom where they know they are safe, valued, heard, and supported. When children feel connected to the adults and peers around them, they are in a better position to learn and grow.

SELF-REGULATION

Self-regulation is the developing ability to manage attention, emotions, thoughts, and behavior in ways that help a person respond appropriately to a situation and work toward a goal (Blair & Raver, 2015).

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FAMILY CONNECTION

Teachers and families are most effective when children hear similar messages in both places. Families do not need special programs or expensive materials to teach social and emotional skills. Some of the strongest learning happens during regular everyday moments.

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