How Video Games Promote Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Have you ever learned an important lesson while playing a video game? A lesson that stuck with you? 

As most of us know, kids often play video games to pass the time and reduce stress. But can we use this activity to teach important life skills that will help students to develop into healthy, functioning adults? The short answer: Yes!

 How can video games help kids?

Video games can be effective for social and emotional learning, also known as SEL. Three main types of SEL games can typically be found: role playing, strategy, and sandbox. For role playing SEL games, players are immersed into a virtual world where they can interact with others from the perspective of their character. Role playing SEL games are especially useful for helping students learn how to put themselves in others’ shoes, which is important for establishing healthy relationships. Strategy games aim to help the player apply skills they have learned in order to complete a goal. Sandbox games provide the player with a high level of freedom to explore the game’s environment, while also encouraging them to apply their SEL skills. 

Students and video games about SEL 

The use of video games for SEL is still fairly new, but multiple benefits have already been appreciated by students who enjoy this mode of education. To provide some examples, SEL video games have been found to improve academic performance; improve self talk and, other SEL practices, and encourage healthy, cooperative behaviors. SEL video games have also been found to help improve mental health, which is especially important since feelings of depression have increased post-pandemic. SEL may potentially serve as a buffer for this rise in mental health challenges. 

Using video games to learn SEL skills is particularly impactful for three main reasons. Firstly, it provides an interesting and popular learning mode for students, potentially motivating them to want to learn about SEL. Secondly, video games provide a safe space for students to learn how to apply SEL skills, especially emotional regulation. Games often evoke certain emotions. While playing, students have the opportunity to learn how to recognize their feelings and regulate their emotions in a healthy way. Lastly, SEL games provide a way for students to apply what they have learned. Furthermore, SEL games are most effective at teaching skills when paired with a discussion of what was learned and applied, bringing further reflection on the concepts. 

We cannot end this discussion without mentioning that video games are not meant to replace real-life interactions, nor are they meant to be the only method for learning SEL skills. The PC games Resilience provides are meant to supplement the SELENA curriculum, providing a fun and interactive way to follow up and apply the lessons that have been learned. The lessons and the PC games are meant to work together to teach students the skills they can apply to their own lives.

With that being mentioned, are you game to try some of Resilience Inc.’s games? Below are a few of the games Resilience Inc. offers currently!

Dealing with Issue and Conflict

Our video game, features a cabin in the woods, with a mountain in the back. The cabin is in a village. The sky is blue with clouds. There are two characters next to the cabin. The screen shows a tasks, the goal is past the village, go into the forest.Another goal is on the screen, you have to cross the river. There are three options: jump across the rocks, throw the potion across the river, try to swim. The character is in front of a river.

You are the village of Leefside’s only hope to deliver a magical potion to an elderly wizard! Use your conflict-resolution skills to get through the various obstacles and get the potion to the wizard safely.

Facing Procrastination

The image shows a view of a kitchen and dining room. The character has to complete chores. The refrigerator is highlighted green, showing that as one of the tasks. The screen asks a question followed by two options. Would you like to dust the shelves or play a song on the radio? The character is next to the shelves and the radio.

Timma is ready to start the weekend…but before they can enjoy it, their mom reminds them to do their chores first. Help Timma make good choices to fight through procrastination and get their chores done in time before their mom is back from work!

Facing Sadness

The screen says visit the dark forest and find a way home. E means reset. The screen also shows a binocular view of a forest with levers on the ground. The screen says find Flash. There are trees, levers, and a reset button on the ground. The character is on a rock.

You wake up in a strange world, but before you can figure out where you are, you hear crying nearby. Work through the obstacles to help the residents of this unfamiliar world and find your way home!

Growth Mindset

The screen says which of the following are traits of the growth mindset? Learns from mistakes, keeps going even when it's tough, embraces challenges, all of the above. There is a blue background. There is a ball on the screen, with the number 190, which shows how many stars they have collected so far. It's in an obstacle course.

Customize your ball and set your mind to making it through this obstacle course. Get as many stars as you can for each level and use what you’ve learned about growth and fixed mindsets to answer questions!

How to Prioritize

The screen says To-Do List. The setting is a pizzeria, with a mouse character saying Remember you have a math quiz tomorrow, so it's good to prepare for it as a priority. Points are at 500. There is a pizza on the screen with different toppings and topping options below it.

Mamma Mia! You’re working at a pizzeria and you’re responsible for making all the yummy pizzas! The toppings represent the various daily tasks you have to complete for the day and you need to put all these toppings in the right order according to your to-do list. Use your prioritization skills to expertly craft your pizzas and help the pizzeria succeed!

Facing Negativity

A ship in the sea, this is from another game we provide. There is an octopus outside in the ocean, the view is from inside the ship in front of cannons that are facing the octopus. There are options on the screen for "What should you do after making a mistake?" A get angry about it, S blame someone else, D try to fix the mistake.

All hands on deck! An angry kraken has emerged from the ocean and is attacking your ship! Use your knowledge about confronting negativity and answer questions to soothe the kraken and reach your destination.

Self-Talk Jenga

There is a stack of Jenga on the screen. Wooden blocks are arranged in a tower. The Jenga tower is on the screen. One of the blocks in the middle is being taken out.

Jenga with a twist! Each block you take out will be accompanied by a prompt, encouraging you to reflect and recognize the things you tell yourself. Feel free to play this by yourself or with others!

Sleep, Rest, Diet, and Exercise

There is a city shown on the screen from one of the games. There are five different buildings, and cars driving on the street by them. Trees and fountains are also on the screen. A finding game is on the screen. There is a gym with people in it. They have to find 3 more objects, they found 1 already. There is a bar on the right that says 81/100.

You’re responsible for your plan for the day. Make good choices and complete everything you need to do without running out of energy!

State of Mind

The screen shows another game in a school setting. The screen says current objective: go to class and gym to complete your school day. Press E to interact with people and doors, left click over dialogue box to continue dialogue, press P to pause. A kid is walking towards someone in the hallway by lockers. The screen shows a kid and their father at home. There is an option on the screen, how do you respond to your dad? The options are I hate ham, Eww, and I love ham.

A positive state of mind can help you get through your day! Try to make the best choices to have more positive interactions with others to boost your state of mind and successfully complete your day.

References

Cejudo, J., Losada, L., & Feltrero, R. (2020). Promoting social and emotional learning and subjective well-being: Impact of the “Aislados” Intervention Program in Adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(2), 609. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020609

Lim-Fei, V., Woo, H. M., & Lee, M. Y. (2016). Serious games to develop social and emotional learning in students. JCSG, 9894, 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45841-0_1

Saunders, H., Panchal , N., Rudowitz, R., & Cox, C. (2023, March 20). The implications of COVID-19 for mental health and substance use. KFF. https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/

Toh, W., & Kirschner, D. (2023). Developing social-emotional concepts for learning with video games. Computers & Education, 194, 104708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2022.104708

Walker, G., & Venker Weidenbenner, J. (2019). Social and emotional learning in the age of virtual play: Technology, empathy, and learning. Journal of Research in Innovative Teaching & Learning, 12(2), 116–132. https://doi.org/10.1108/jrit-03-2019-0046

The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.