Social and Emotional Development in Scouting

From an emotion development article at Edutopia: Social and emotional learning can help students successfully resolve conflict, communicate clearly, solve problems, and much more.

Whether it’s in the boardroom or the classroom, individuals need the skills to communicate, work in teams, and let go of the personal and family issues that get in the way of working and learning. Such skills add up to what is known as emotional intelligence, and they are even more important as educators realize that these skills are critical to academic achievement.

Emotionally intelligent individuals stand out.

Their ability to empathize, persevere, control impulses, communicate clearly, make thoughtful decisions, solve problems, and work with others earns them friends and success. They tend to lead happier lives, with more satisfying relationships. At work, they are more productive, and they spur productivity in others. At school, they do better on standardized tests and help create a safe, comfortable classroom atmosphere that makes it easier to learn.

Scouting’s wide open atmosphere of learning is a perfect setting for emotional development and building social intelligence. Our ideals embody high expectations for emotional and social maturation. On my honor I will do my best Scouts must develop an internal standard against which they measure themselves. They must judge their own actions based on self knowledge and self motivation. To do my duty to God Scouts pledge to recognize and nurture the moral imperatives that grow out of spiritual reflection. And my country Scouts understand that their needs and interests can only be met in the context of a wider community. They develop a dedication to supporting and strengthening society by looking beyond themselves. To help other people at all times Scouts are led to see beyond their own welfare to the interests of others. They learn the importance of teamwork, engagement, commitment and working together towards common goals. To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.

Scouts realize that properly maintaining themselves physically, mentally and spiritually not only benefits themselves but keeps them prepared for service. They learn to appreciate and nurture themselves. It is up to us, the Scoutmasters, to maintain an atmosphere of awareness and reflection that develops emotional and social intelligence. We accomplish this by focusing on the promises of the movement, our place in fulfilling these promises and creating conditions that allow the work to flourish.