Learning through language: The importance of emotion and mental state language for children’s social and emotional learning

Social and emotional learning is crucial for healthy development. Prior work has demonstrated that linguistic input (including emotion and mental state language) is beneficial for early social and emotional learning. In this Perspectives article, we build on existing research and consider the diverse ways in which emotion and mental state language can influence social and emotional learning. Namely, we discuss the importance of considering the content of language, the context in which language occurs, and the broader sociocultural factors of children’s early environments. By taking a more nuanced approach to understanding the influence of emotion and mental state language in social and emotional learning, this article aims to more comprehensively characterize how we can support social and emotional learning through everyday conversations with children. Ultimately, this will allow for advancements in research, practice, and policy to better help parents and educators guide social and emotional development through the linguistic input that they provide to children.