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Why Art is the Heart of SEL

Not long ago, during an art session in a government school, I asked children to draw “what happiness looks like to you.”

Some drew bright suns and flowers.

One child drew his family eating together.

Another drew a football field with his friends.

And one girl quietly sketched herself sitting under a tree. When I asked her about it, she said:

“This is where I go when I feel too many things inside. The tree listens.”


That moment reminded me that children often know how they feel but struggle to put it into words. Art gives them a language when words fall short. This is where Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and creativity meet.


Fig. A session on self-expression with the students of Grade 5
Fig. A session on self-expression with the students of Grade 5

What Emotional Intelligence Really Means

At its heart, SEL is about building emotional intelligence - the ability to recognize, understand, and manage emotions in ourselves and in others.

Research by Daniel Goleman and later by CASEL shows that emotional intelligence is strongly linked to:

  • Better relationships

  • Resilience under stress

  • Higher academic achievement

  • Greater overall wellbeing

But emotional intelligence doesn’t come from a textbook. It grows from lived experiences and art is one of the most powerful experiences we can offer.



How Art Builds Emotional Intelligence


1. Self-Awareness

When children paint their emotions, they learn to notice and name them. A red storm might mean anger, a soft blue wash might mean calm. Over time, they connect their inner feelings to outer expression.

2. Self-Management

Art teaches patience and focus. A child frustrated with a difficult craft project learns to pause, breathe, and try again building resilience in the process.

3. Social Awareness

Collaborative projects like murals or group collages invite children to see perspectives beyond their own. They learn empathy by understanding their peers’ choices of colours, stories, or symbols.

4. Relationship Skills

Sharing crayons, negotiating ideas, or co-creating a story builds communication and cooperation naturally without the pressure of formal lessons.

5. Responsible Decision-Making

Art encourages choices. From colours to themes, every decision has meaning. Reflecting on these choices helps children see the link between expression and consequence.


Fig. Sketching their emotions - a student of Grade 4
Fig. Sketching their emotions - a student of Grade 4

A Story from Our Sessions

In one of our workshops, a boy who rarely spoke drew a picture of a broken kite. When asked about it, he said softly, “It’s me. I try, but I fall.”

This small act of drawing became the doorway to a conversation about self-doubt, courage, and trying again. For him, art was a lifeline for self-expression.

Moments like these remind us that creativity is not “extra.” It is essential for children to understand themselves and connect with the world around them.


Why Schools Must Embrace SEL Through Art

  • Accessible: Art needs few resources like paper, crayons, or even the ground and a stick can work.

  • Inclusive: Every child, regardless of academic ability can participate and express.

  • Transformative: Art doesn’t just teach creativity; it builds confidence, empathy, and resilience.


Final Thought

The future belongs to children who are not only knowledgeable but also emotionally intelligent. By bringing art into SEL, we give them the tools to explore, heal, and grow.

Because sometimes, a brushstroke speaks louder than words.


If you or your organisation would like to adapt our SEL curriculum in your school or project, Thoughts to Action would be happy to support and collaborate.


📍 Based in Jorhat, Assam – open to partnerships across regions.

 
 
 
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