Introduction

As students grow and develop, they will experience various feelings and emotions, including crushes. It is essential for educators to help students understand and navigate these complex emotions, especially in a Special Education setting. By incorporating principles of Social-Emotional Learning, we can guide students on how to recognize a crush, how to act around their crush, and how to develop healthy relationships.

No-Prep Activity

Try the “Crush Scenario Role Play” activity to help students practice appropriate behavior around a crush. Divide the students into pairs, and provide them with different scenarios involving interactions with a crush. Have the students take turns acting as the person with the crush and the other person in the scenario. Encourage them to use the DOs and DON’Ts discussed in this blog post to guide their interactions. After each scenario, discuss the experience and what they learned from it. This activity requires no preparation or materials, making it a convenient option for any classroom setting.

Discussion Questions

• What are some signs that you might have a crush on someone?
• Why is it important to be yourself when interacting with your crush?
• How can establishing a friendship with your crush before considering dating help both individuals?
• What are some ways to avoid making your crush feel uncomfortable?
• How can the “Think It or Say It” strategy help you when communicating with your crush?

Related Skills

While understanding crushes and developing healthy relationships are essential skills for students, there are other relevant skills that educators should consider teaching. These skills include:

• Effective communication: Encourage students to express their thoughts and feelings openly and honestly while being considerate of the other person.
• Empathy: Teach students to understand and share the feelings of others, especially when navigating complex emotions like crushes.
• Respecting boundaries: Help students recognize and respect the personal boundaries of others, both emotionally and physically.
• Self-awareness: Encourage students to reflect on their emotions and behaviors to better understand themselves and their interactions with others.

Next Steps

Now that you have learned about understanding crushes and developing healthy relationships in a Special Education setting, it’s time to put these skills into practice. To help you get started, we encourage you to sign up for free samples of the discussed skill and others. These materials will provide you with valuable resources to support your students in their Social-Emotional Learning journey. Don’t miss this opportunity to make a positive impact on your students’ development and well-being.