About Us
What is Nurture Nebraska?
Nurture Nebraska is a statewide public awareness campaign supported by the University Nebraska-Lincoln Grand Challenge research initiative developed in partnership with TransformED. The campaign empowers families, parents and caregivers to learn more about social and emotional development.
What is social and emotional development?
Social and emotional health and development is about growing children and keeping meaningful relationships with adults and other children. It includes showing, understanding, and managing their feelings and actions. It also means reacting in the right way to other people’s feelings, making good choices, and being aware of a child’s ability to build and maintain significant relationships with adults and peers. Social and emotional development urges adults and parents to ask children to express, recognize, and regulate emotions and actions.
Why is social and emotional development important?
Social and emotional development is essential because it provides children with the skills to build healthy relationships, manage emotions, and develop self-confidence. These abilities support their academic success, mental health, and overall resilience, helping them navigate challenges and connect positively with others. Research shows that children with strong social-emotional skills are better equipped for long-term success, handling stress and relationships effectively throughout life. Ultimately, these skills enable children to thrive in all areas, fostering a foundation for lifelong well-being and happiness.
What does it look like?
Supporting social and emotional development in children involves creating safe, nurturing environments where they can learn to understand and manage their emotions, build relationships, and make responsible decisions. Adults can model positive behaviors, teach emotion recognition, and encourage empathy by guiding children in social interactions like sharing, turn-taking, and listening. Helping children navigate challenges through problem-solving builds resilience and confidence, while specific praise reinforces their progress. Overall, this support helps children feel secure, connected, and prepared to navigate life’s social and emotional aspects.
