Connecting Arts Integration to Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Among Children with Special Needs (CWSN)

Abstract

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is the key to supporting better inclusion, better acceptance, and better living of children with special needs in today’s rights-based society. It supports learners by equipping them with skills ofself-awareness, empathizing with others, recognizing others’perspectives leading to better collaborations and peer group activities. It also enhances self-regulation and awareness of one’s own emotions. Integrating arts-basedlearning supports SEL to train Children with Special needs (CWSN) in the identification of emotions, working in a team, and gaining self-awareness. The present chapter explores various facets of SEL through the integration of arts-based learning suchas creating of companionate school, the use of SEL by teachers, exploring the benefits of SEL of learnerswithand without disabilities, gaining insight into the role of art in SEL. The methodology adopted for the present study wasa survey of ten special educators working in special schools located in Delhi-NCR using a specially designed checklist. This chapter highlights the majorfindingsof the study which clearly indicate the utilization of SEL standards in imparting teaching and learning through Art integrationcan support the personal, social, and holisticwell-being of Children with Special needs.