Considering such importance, Trehaus School Jakarta held a half-day workshop on social-emotional learning (SEL) and emotional intelligence in young children on Saturday.

Held in cooperation with the Association of National and Private Schools (ANPS), the workshop was divided into two sessions, allowing parents, educators and early childhood practitioners to deepen their understanding of the topic, the organizer said in a statement.

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The first session, “Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children Through Mindfulness", and was led by Shareen Ratnani, chief of programs at ANPS. This session explored how mindfulness practices can be integrated into everyday interactions to help children develop emotional awareness, self-regulation and resilience from an early age.

“In a fast-paced world, mindfulness teaches children one powerful skill: how to pause, breathe and choose. These are life skills that begin in the early years,” Ratnani said.

The second session took the title “The Heart of Social-Emotional Learning: Connecting Deeply with Young Children” and was delivered by Elizabeth Wu, cofounder and chief operating officer of Trehaus.

She highlighted the importance of building strong emotional connections between adults and children, emphasizing active listening, presence and intentional communication as the foundation of effective learning and healthy emotional development.

“Social and emotional learning [SEL] begins when teachers realize that the most powerful SEL tool in the classroom is them – the educator that is in the everyday moments that matter to children,” Wu said.

“Through this workshop, educators are invited to reconnect with the heart of social and emotional learning, which is listening with intention, communicating with empathy and responding to children’s needs in ways that build trust, resilience and meaningful relationships.”

The session also introduces nonviolent communication strategies, equipping educators to recognize children’s underlying emotions, navigate challenging interactions with care and strengthen trust and connection in the classroom.

During the workshop, participants gained practical insights and actionable strategies that can be applied both at home and in early learning environments.

The workshop also encouraged meaningful dialogue between parents and educators, reinforcing the shared role they play in supporting children’s emotional well-being.

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