Facilitating SEL in PAL (Workshop)

The above images were my 'notes' / takeaways from the session. Throughout the session, though, there was 1 question that kept bugging me-

"We were not taught this when we were young- how is it that we grew up fine?"

And the answer came toward the end when the lecturer said "the reason why these kids need to be TAUGHT, is because the platforms we used to have for social interaction (and thus social and emotional learning) when we were young, are not being used by / given to them anymore. And that platform is called PLAYING TOGETHER.

Experiential learning in unadulterated settings is the best form of learning- however, so many of them don't have that anymore. Recess is a short 30 minutes in a 7-hr day, and many of them have various forms of tuition after that. Is it little wonder that SEC (social & emotional competency is not seen demonstrated in our students- because they do not have it- because they do not have the opportunities to learn it!

What puzzles me, though, is this- Why do we have periods allocated to learn the skills (and assume that teachers are all (1) free enough to take the necessary required time to plan activities related to SECs, (2) competent enough to teach such complex skills), instead of letting them play freely and allowing social forces to teach the child instead? E.g. it could be a very simple thing such as telling the Form Teachers or English Teachers (since SEC is also a lot about using the right language, yes?) to use 2 of their periods to let the class play with a box of games (can be the same box every week) and then insert teachable moments as and when it happens?

But i think my questions are formed from naivety- after all, MOE has been nothing short of stellar when it comes to providing helpful and enriching workshops in the education field. I shall wait, observe, and learn (: