Social emotional learning (SEL) is seen as critical for children’s lifelong success. Though most of the research on preschoolers’ SEL is focused on school-based interventions, children’s museums are valuable resources for fostering SEL. Over the last several years, we have conducted a series of studies examining how preschoolers’ engage in SEL in children’s museums. The first study assessed whether preschoolers demonstrate SEL behaviors in children’s museums and if there were differences between SEL in children’s museums compared to other free, play-based settings, like community playgrounds. The second study compared observations of preschoolers’ peer relationship skills in three different types of children’s museum exhibit types, including a) loose parts exhibits; b) scenario-based exhibits; and c) collaborative activity exhibits. And the third study measured what parents/caregivers observe about their child(ren)’s SEL during a children’s museum visit.
In this seminar, Dr. Luke will share results from all three studies and engage participants in discussion about the affordances and constraints for facilitating SEL in an informal learning environment like children’s museums.

This seminar is part of the Child Development and Learning (CDL) Seminar Series.

Join in-person or online on Teams: teams.microsoft.com/meet/3799219398382?p=2e2iFubdvLDs8dvPmG