Social Emotional Learning (SEL): Relationship Skills

Relationship skills are critical to success in life and work.

Healthy Relationships show:

-Mutual respect. Respect means that each person values who the other is and understands the other person’s boundaries.

-Trust. People should place trust in each other and give each other the benefit of the doubt.

-Honesty

-Compromise

-Individuality

-Good communication

-Anger control

In our fourth book of the Pee Wee and Buddy series, The Life and Times of Pee Wee and Buddy: Dog Day at the Zoo, Pee Wee and Buddy learn at the zoo about animals from all over the world and how differently they live. They show interest in the different animals and their habitats by asking about them and showing respect for them.

Upon entering the zoo, Pee Wee shows signs of anxiety, and Gus, realizing this, helps by moving his crew along to a less-crowded spot.

Through good communication, a trust for one another, and allowing each other to truly be themselves, Pee Wee, Buddy, and Gus are a great team of friends. They have strong relationship skills, and that is shown in their actions and words.

In the end of the story, the animals are approached by Willie the Wise Old Owl, who tells the pups that everyone at the zoo, despite their shape or size, matters, and they all live in peace with each other.

Pee Wee, Buddy, and Gus leave the zoo thinking of the wise owl’s words: “Be kind! Be cheerful! Everyone matters! Get along!”

“We are not born with the relationship skills we need. They must be taught and practiced, just like learning a language.”

What language are you speaking?