It’s the first week of a new school year! An exciting time for many kids who look forward to seeing their friends, learning new things and starting up a new session of programs at Moorelands Kids. But for some children, this time can also bring stress and anxiety, as they face the pressure to fit in, adjust to new routines, and build new friendships.
Research shows that children who develop strong social-emotional skills are more likely to succeed not just academically, but also as contributing members of their communities. Having these skills makes it easier for youth to build positive peer relationships—an essential part of their well-being and a key part of being a kid.
At Moorelands Kids, our unique leadership programs, City Clubs and City Vital Youth, are designed to strengthen these skills, as well as develop healthy habits that kids can practise and apply in any setting. When children and youth develop life and leadership skills, it empowers them to learn how to manage emotions, build core friendships, and ultimately thrive at home, at school and in their community.
What are social-emotional skills, and why do they matter?
Social-emotional learning (SEL) includes skills like empathy, self-regulation, communication and resilience. These are all skills that children need to navigate the school year successfully. Studies show that SEL improves youth mental health and can also lead to long-term academic improvement and increased student engagement.
All Moorelands programs are built on the Positive Youth Development framework, with a focus on critical thinking and decision making, emotional intelligence, communication, conflict resolution, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership. Through City Clubs or City Vital Youth, participants get consistent opportunities to practise these skills in a supportive environment with encouragement from peers and staff role models.
“This is a really fun program where you can learn so many things. We learn manners, how to be respectful, new games and much more.” – City Programs Participant
The Importance of Friendship
Friendships and a sense of belonging aren’t just “nice-to-haves.”—they are essential social support systems directly linked to children’s health and academic performance. This is even more important in the wake of the pandemic, which disrupted critical development years for many school-aged kids.
A supportive school environment and a sense of peer belonging promote emotional health. Even just one strong friendship can make a significant difference, helping ease anxiety and strengthen resilience in children and youth.
In the 2024-2025 school year, 100% of City Vital Youth participants reported that they made positive connections with their peers in the program. In this same year, 100% of participants also reported an increase in their self-confidence!
Ultimately, when kids feel they belong, they’re more confident, more resilient and better able to handle the ups and downs of the school year.
How Moorelands’ City Programs Promote SEL & Positive Peer Connections
Research from the After School Alliance shows that high-quality leadership programs help teach SEL while giving children safe spaces to practise their peer interactions.
At Moorelands, our staff are trained to engage with youth in positive ways, modelling skills such as leadership, teamwork and empathy, while encouraging them to make meaningful peer connections. And, according to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, participation in these kinds of skill-building programs with intentional mentorship is linked to better mental health, cultural connectedness and academic achievement in kids.
This combination of quality mentorship, SEL practice and supportive community is what makes Moorelands City programs so impactful.
“You can’t underestimate the impact of a strong role model. For a child to have a young adult that believes in them—it’s a very positive experience.” – Brian, Moorelands Staff
Moorelands Kids in Action
At Moorelands Kids, “belonging” isn’t a concept; it’s a goal. Leadership activities such as group games and challenges help kids to learn teamwork, problem-solving and perseverance. Our programs create an inclusive environment where every child feels they have a place, guided by staff mentors and role models who encourage empathy and healthy friendships.
Social-emotional skills and positive peer relationships are critical for thriving youth, and our staff have seen children who once struggled to connect with others grow into confident leaders who can carry their skills from the classroom, out into everyday life at home and in their social circles.
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR CITY PROGRAMS
Sources:
- After School Alliance, An Ideal Opportunity: The Role of Afterschool in Social and Emotional Learning: https://afterschoolalliance.org//documents/issue_briefs/issue_sel_71.pdf
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, Building Bigger Connections: https://bigbrothersbigsisters.ca/research-supports-positive-effects-of-mentoring/
- Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL): Fundamentals of SEL: https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/what-does-the-research-say/