Learning Together Makes Kids Kinder and Fairer
Promoting gender equity in very young adolescents: targeting a window of opportunity for social emotional learning and identity development
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Kids aged 10-11 in Tanzania did better in being kind, fair, and working together when they learned through fun group activities with boys and girls, talked about what they learned, and did tasks with their families.
Surprising Findings
Even content-only instruction improved social-emotional skills, but experiential + community learning was dramatically better.
Many assume any SEL program works—but this shows the design makes a huge difference. Passive learning isn’t enough.
Practical Takeaways
Use hands-on group challenges (like building something together) to teach teamwork and fairness in classrooms.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Kids aged 10-11 in Tanzania did better in being kind, fair, and working together when they learned through fun group activities with boys and girls, talked about what they learned, and did tasks with their families.
Surprising Findings
Even content-only instruction improved social-emotional skills, but experiential + community learning was dramatically better.
Many assume any SEL program works—but this shows the design makes a huge difference. Passive learning isn’t enough.
Practical Takeaways
Use hands-on group challenges (like building something together) to teach teamwork and fairness in classrooms.
Publication
Journal
BMC Public Health
Year
2021
Authors
Megan Cherewick, Sarah Lebu, C. Su, L. Richards, P. Njau, R. Dahl
Related Content
Claims (6)
Teaching young kids in cities in Tanzania about emotions and relationships through hands-on group activities, talking about their experiences, and getting involved in their communities helps them believe more in equal rights between boys and girls—way more than just teaching them facts in class.
Kids in cities in Tanzania between ages 10 and 11 feel more confident, curious, and better at working with others after doing a 6-week program that teaches social and emotional skills through hands-on activities—not just lessons.
When kids in Tanzania aged 10 or 11 work together in small mixed groups with adult guidance on hands-on activities, they get better at teamwork than if they just sit and learn facts in class.
When schools in urban Tanzania involve parents and communities in social-emotional learning programs for 10- and 11-year-olds, kids show bigger improvements in how they relate to others and in gender equality—especially when activities continue at home and in the community.
A fun 6-week school program using videos, group chats, and tech games helped 10- and 11-year-olds in Tanzania feel better mentally — especially with anxiety and sadness — more than just learning the same topics without the activities.