Website: https://eduskills.plus/sel
In a world that is changing quickly and becoming more diverse, social and emotional skills play a key role in how children adapt to their surroundings. EduSkills+ SEL is built on a clear conviction: these skills should be learned early, and the adults who support children need practical tools to teach them with confidence.
The project is developing free, tested and easy to access materials for kindergarten teachers focused on Social and Emotional Learning. The approach combines online guidelines with activity plans and ready-to-use materials, with a strong emphasis on outdoor activities and early media education. Information on SEL is also prepared for parents. The partnership plans to make all materials available in Croatian, English, German, Italian and Slovene.
The primary target group is kindergarten teachers across Europe, with children and parents as important secondary audiences. While the work is still ongoing, it has already been shaped by practice. An early survey of kindergarten teachers, with 307 participants, was used to understand needs and preferences before the materials are finalised.
From frameworks to kindergarten-friendly practice
Before activities could be developed, a shared understanding was established of how social and emotional learning should be approached in a kindergarten context. Two widely used frameworks, CASEL and the European LifeComp framework, were compared and translated into clear, kindergarten-appropriate learning outcomes and a coherent content structure.
One key creative decision that emerged from this process was to use a narrative approach. This is built around a central character, supported by recurring rituals and moments for reflection. The aim is to embed social and emotional learning into the everyday rhythm of kindergarten life, rather than treating it as a separate or isolated topic.
Results and outputs
Alongside the guidelines, a set of didactic activities and supporting materials is being developed for direct use in kindergarten groups.
A dedicated website for teachers is being developed and integrated into the EduSkills+ platform, providing a central online access point for all materials as they become available.
Our role
Studio GAUS GmbH coordinates the project and shapes its overall structure and working processes. We coordinate the collaboration between partner organisations and accompany the planning and implementation phases across all work areas.
We develop and operate the project’s digital environment, including the website and online structures through which the materials will be published. Our work includes supporting dissemination processes and establishing shared workflows so that content development, testing and digital implementation remain aligned throughout the project duration.
Project partners
- Studio GAUS GmbH (Germany)
- Inter-kulturo d.o.o. (Slovenia)
- Università degli Studi di Perugia (Italy)
- Sveučilište u Rijeci (Croatia)
- Vrtec Tezno Maribor (Slovenia)
- IC Montecastrilli (Italy)
- Deutsche Liga für das Kind in Familie und Gesellschaft e.V. (Germany)
- Dječji vrtić Pčelica (Croatia)
The partnership combines regular online coordination with in person working meetings, including sessions in Berlin, Maribor, Rijeka and Perugia. Day-to-day collaboration is supported by a shared online workspace that allows the different institutions and countries to work closely together.
The guidelines and activities are currently moving from draft development towards testing in kindergarten practice. While the materials are still under development, this project page provides an overview of the approach, structure, and planned outputs.