Social and emotional learning (SEL) is essential to academic success and personal growth. It helps students build self-awareness, manage emotions, develop empathy, and form healthy relationships. Online tools can play a vital role in supporting these skills by providing structured lessons, interactive activities, and safe spaces for reflection. Here are some of the best platforms designed to support emotional learning in engaging and accessible ways.
1. CASEL SEL Framework Resources
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) offers a range of digital resources aligned with its SEL framework. These include toolkits, classroom strategies, and implementation guides that help schools integrate emotional learning into daily instruction.
2. Common Sense Education – Digital Citizenship & SEL
Common Sense Education provides free SEL-aligned digital citizenship lessons that focus on empathy, responsible technology use, and self-regulation. The platform offers videos, activities, and teacher guides suitable for students from elementary through high school.
3. Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is a mindfulness and meditation app designed for children and teens. It supports emotional regulation and stress reduction through guided exercises, making it a valuable tool for developing self-awareness and focus.
4. Mood Meter (by Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence)
Mood Meter helps students identify and label their emotions throughout the day. By building emotional vocabulary and reflection habits, it supports better emotional regulation and decision-making.
5. Second Step Digital Programs
Second Step offers digital SEL curriculum for different grade levels. The platform includes videos, activities, and educator training modules that promote empathy, conflict resolution, and positive behavior.
6. Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame
Targeted at younger learners, this interactive app teaches problem-solving and emotional management using animated scenarios and calming exercises. It’s especially helpful for early childhood emotional development.
7. Inner Explorer
Inner Explorer provides audio-guided mindfulness practices that align with daily classroom routines. The tool is designed to support focus, compassion, and stress management for students and educators alike.
8. Peekapak
Peekapak combines storytelling with SEL lessons in an online learning environment. Students follow character-driven narratives while engaging with concepts like gratitude, cooperation, and resilience.
9. Headspace for Educators and Students
Headspace offers guided meditations and mindfulness exercises that help students manage stress and improve focus. With special access for schools, it’s a widely used resource for promoting emotional wellness.
10. Harmony SEL
Harmony SEL provides free online lessons and activities that foster collaboration, respect, and inclusion. The platform supports relationship skills through classroom circles, storytelling, and discussion prompts.
Conclusion
Supporting emotional learning is critical to helping students thrive academically and personally. With the right online tools, educators and learners can build strong emotional foundations in a thoughtful, engaging, and consistent way. These resources make SEL more accessible and effective, both in the classroom and beyond.
