Children are exposed to various situations through TV shows and movies. This makes outlandish situations such as throwing food and doing dares seem silly and harmless to kids.

The name of this article stems from a common dare students give: to lick the bottom of their shoe. 

It’s important for every child’s health and safety that kids can think critically about the actions they make. 

Below are exercises to help foster the skill of critically thinking. 

SOMETHING TO NOTE…

These Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) exercises are meant to be a resource that helps children critically think about choices people make.  

This SEL resource can be used during a conversation with a child about hypothetical situations or when a child is in the middle of a real life situation where they made a choice that wasn’t healthy or safe. 

First: Set The Stage

During this SEL conversation with your child, it is important that the adult is calm. This will help the child not feel attacked. Also, it allows them to feel safe and comfortable having this conversation. 

Second: Critically think through some situations

Use the social-emotional learning exercises below to walk a child through practicing critically thinking for themselves. If introducing this SEL skill during real-time problem solving, then wait until there’s another quiet time to practice the hypothetical situations.

Finally: Ending the conversation