The REAL and DARK Dangers of Social-Emotional Learning for Kids

I want to talk about something that has been on my heart and mind lately – the real and dark dangers of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). I know that as parents, we all want the best for our children, and we want them to grow, learn and thrive. But, I also know that SEL is not what it seems to be, it is evil. Although it’s often presented as a program that helps children cope with the difficulties of learning, in reality, it’s a dangerous tool used to indoctrinate our children with values that don’t align with our Christian beliefs. We have to be aware of the dangers of Social-Emotional Learning in our schools.

Recently, I listened to an episode of the New Discourses Podcast that covered the topic of SEL. The host, James Lindsay, went into great detail about the dangers of this program and the far-reaching implications of its implementation. I highly recommend you listen to it to understand why we need to block/remove SEL from our schools and hold those responsible for implementing it accountable.

Awakening to the Dangers of Social-Emotional Learning

As Christian Moms, we know the importance of our children’s emotional well-being. However, we also know that true emotional well-being comes from a relationship with God, and NOT from any program that the state wants to implement. We should be the ones teaching our children about emotional regulation, empathy, and compassion, not the state. We need to protect our children’s hearts and minds from the dangerous ideology of Social-Emotional Learning. The only thing I want the schools to teach my kids is the core subjects needed to graduate.

We can no longer pretend that this is not a REAL danger to our kids! Let’s come together to pray for our schools, teachers, and leaders, that they may see the truth and do what is right for our kids. Prayer is powerful, especially when all of our voices are lifted in unison. We need to battle against this in the spirit and to teach our children the truth and raise them to be strong, confident, and compassionate Christians who stand up for what is right. When God was taken out of our schools in the 60’s, a door was open to the enemy. The enemy now has an open flow into our schools and has slowly changed the way our kids are taught.

The Enemy is Deceiving our Children with SEL

We know that being a kid or teenager is tough enough. Our kids are still trying to figure out who they are. The enemy knows this all too well and knows that this is the perfect time to come steal, kill and destroy or kids. One of the most troubling aspects and dangers of Social-Emotional Learning is the way that it tries to manipulate our children’s emotions. By encouraging children to be vulnerable and share their feelings, SEL programs can be incredibly alluring.

However, we need to recognize that this isn’t just about helping kids feel good about themselves, and mental health awareness. It’s about creating a culture of emotional dependence and encouraging children to look to the state for emotional support, rather than to God, or their parents. It is no doubt, a form of brainwashing and manipulation. It slowly creates a divide and makes the parents the enemy. It deceives our kids to believe that we don’t understand them.

SEL promotes values and beliefs that are in opposition to our Christian faith. For example, some SEL programs encourage children to question traditional, God-given gender roles and promote the LGBTQ+ agenda. As I said before, the enemy knows exactly when to come in, target and confuse our kids to question everything that God created them to be. As Christian Moms, we need to be aware of these underlying ideologies and work to protect our children from being exposed to them. Our kids are literally under attack.

It can be overwhelming to think about the magnitude of this issue, but we cannot afford to ignore it. We must stand together and demand that children are educated in a way that aligns with our faith and values. We don’t expect them to be taught the Bible or anything in the school, just not secretly taught a demonic curriculum under the guise of mental health and social awareness. We can pray for our leaders and educators to be revealed the truth and make the right decisions for our children. Remember, the majority of these teachers are just a vessel for the enemy, the teachers are unaware and actually think they are helping our kids. The underlying purpose from the enemy of this is absolutely nefarious and meant to destroy our kids.

Dangers of Social-Emotional Learning in Schools

It can prioritize feelings over truth.

While emotions are certainly an important aspect of who we are, they shouldn’t be the only factor in decision-making. As Christians, we believe in absolute truth that comes from God’s word. And sometimes, that truth might conflict with our feelings or the feelings of those around us. If we prioritize emotions over truth, we risk making decisions that go against our faith and values.

It can promote a secular worldview.

Many SEL programs are developed by secular organizations, so they will most likely promote ideas or values that go against our Christian beliefs. For example, some programs might teach that gender is a social construct or that traditional family structures are outdated. As parents, we need to be aware of the messages our children are receiving and ensure that they align with our faith.

It can undermine parental authority.

SEL programs often teach children to look to their own emotions and experiences as the ultimate authority on what’s right or wrong. This can lead to a sense of entitlement or rebellion against parental authority. As parents, we need to maintain our role as the primary authority in our children’s lives, while also teaching them to respect and understand their own emotions. We also need to train them to not be led by feelings and emotions.

It can be used to push a political agenda.

SEL has become a hot-button political issue in some circles. Some organizations and activists use SEL as a way to push their own political agenda, rather than focusing on the well-being of children. As parents, we need to be aware of the agendas behind the programs our kids are involved in.

It can distract from academics.

SEL is unnecessary in education. We need to remember that our primary goal is to provide a strong academic foundation. If we spend time focusing on SEL, we risk neglecting other important subjects like math, science, and history.

Now, I’m not saying that we should completely ignore the social and emotional needs of our children. But I do think that we need to approach Social-Emotional Learning with caution and a critical eye. As always, we need to prayerfully consider our choices and ensure that they align with our faith and values.

It can be overemphasized at the expense of character development.

While SEL can help children learn to manage their emotions and build healthy relationships, it’s important to remember that character development goes beyond these skills. As Christian parents, we want to instill values like honesty, kindness, and selflessness in our children. These character traits should be prioritized over simply improving social and emotional competencies.

It can be implemented in ways that undermine biblical teaching.

As with any educational program, there’s a risk that SEL could be implemented in ways that contradict biblical teachings. For example, some programs may emphasize self-esteem over humility, or teach children to rely on their own inner wisdom rather than seeking guidance from God. It’s important for parents to evaluate any SEL program they’re considering using to ensure that it aligns with their faith.

It can perpetuate a victim mentality.

Some SEL programs focus heavily on identifying and coping with emotions like anxiety, fear, and sadness. While it’s important to address these issues, there’s a risk that children could become too focused on their negative emotions and begin to see themselves as victims. As Christians, we want to teach our children to have a hopeful and grateful attitude, even in difficult circumstances. We focus on the God in us, not on our own problems.

It can undermine the authority of Scripture.

As Christians, we believe that the Bible is the ultimate authority on matters of faith and morals. However, some SEL programs may present alternative sources of authority, such as popular psychology or secular social norms. This can undermine the authority of Scripture and lead children to question or reject biblical teachings.

We need to recognize that SEL is not what it seems to be. It has the enemies DNA all over it. It may look on the outside to some as an amazing thing for kids, but it is tainted and only seeks to devour and confuse them. We must be vigilant and protect our children from being indoctrinated by this program. There are many dangers of Social-Emotional Learning.  As Christian Moms, we need to take a stand, speak out, and demand that our children are educated in a way that does not seek to secretly destroy them.

Forest Rose

Forest Rose is a God Loving, Blessed Wife, &  Mama to 3 girls. She’s passionate about lifting moms out of the trenches that are discouraged, overwhelmed, or feeling alone or isolated. Her hope is to point them to Christ and equip them to rise up with a newfound hope and joy within, that He alone can provide. Besides blogging, she also loves to create printables!