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Raising Emotionally
Intelligent Kids
Social & Emotional Learning
Heart Matters Academy equips children with the emotional tools they need to thrive — at home, in school, and throughout life.
4 SEL Pillars ❤ 3–9 Age Range ❤ Cape Town & Growing
Social Skills
❤
Confident
❤
Resilient
❤
Social Skills ❤ Confident ❤ Resilient ❤
The Framework
4 Pillars of Emotional Intelligence
Our programme is structured around these 4 pillars:
Heart Matters is a heart-centred social and emotional learning programme for young children. Heart Matters focuses on promoting positive behaviour as well as reducing anti-social behaviour.
The reality of the 21st century and our children growing up in it demands that we broaden our perspective on education and make space within our busy classrooms to grow the whole child - heart and mind.
Self-Awareness
This is your ability to recognize your emotions, know your personal strengths and challenges.
How do I see myself? Do I show self love? What makes me happy?
What are my values? Do I acknowledge my emotions? What are my triggers?
Ψidentify their emotions Ψinside and outside my body feelings Ψthe physiological changes in our body when we feel different emotions Ψbody bubble Ψpersonal space Ψbody autonomy Ψuniqueness
Self-Management
This is the ability to manage your emotions, your behaviour and to self-regulate.
Can I control my emotions? What do I do when things don’t go my way?
Can I control my impulsivity? What do I use for coping skills?
Ψimportance of uncomfortable emotions Ψcoping skills Ψour robot/thinking brain for controlling impulsivity Ψbrain/heart connection Ψpower of breathing Ψemotional terminology
3. Social Awareness
This is the ability to show empathy for others, be able to respect others for their ideas, values and choices. To be able to understand the impact that you have on others and the world around you. Truly understanding the meaning that we are one of many.
Do I respect other people’s choices? Do I notice how other people are feeling?
Do I show that I care?
Ψempathy Ψbucket filling/dipping Ψwords and our heart Ψsharing Ψkindness
Social Skills
This is the ability to form positive relationships, resolve conflict, handle changes,
be resilient and be able to collaborate.
Am I a good friend? Can I positively manage conflict? Can I work in a team? Can I be flexible?
Ψfriendship Ψgrowth mindset Ψteamwork Ψcompromise Ψconflict
Family Matters
Your Child's Emotional Growth Starts at Home
Children aren't the only ones learning. As parents, we're learning too.
At Heart Matters, we believe emotional development is a journey that families take together. That's why we offer one-on-one parent consultations and courses, providing practical guidance, evidence-based strategies and everyday tools to help parents better understand and support their child's emotional development.
Together, we can build stronger relationships and give children the confidence, resilience and emotional skills they need to thrive.
HM in the Classroom
Bring Heart Matters
into Your Classroom
Our school programme gives educators the tools, training, and curriculum to embed Social and Emotional Learning into daily school life,
creating happier, more engaged learners.
📖 The Village Series
The Connected Child Caregiver
A gentle, practical 4-week programme designed to support child caregivers and classroom assistants to understand young children’s social and emotional development through connection, empathy, and practical guidance.
🎓 Educators Empowerment Workshop
Small changes can have a lasting impact. Our Educator Empowerment Workshop provides practical tools and strategies that help teachers better understand behaviour, strengthen emotional wellbeing and create positive classrooms where children can flourish.
📖 Lifeskills workshops (Grade 1-3)
Our Life Skills Workshops for Grades 1–3 are designed to complement the school curriculum through engaging, age-appropriate short courses that build essential social and emotional skills. Covering topics such as understanding emotions, building healthy friendships, and developing confidence, resilience, and a growth mindset, each workshop equips children with practical tools to thrive both in the classroom and in everyday life.
Our Team
The Hearts Behind Heart Matters
We are the co-founders and creators of the Heart Matters, Social and Emotional learning programmes.
We are driven with immense passion for nurturing "smart hearts", raising emotionally intelligent children and helping them understand how important emotions are. We believe it takes a village to raise a child and recognize that the love, guidance, and emotional support from parents, educators and caregivers together, lay a solid foundation for a child to experience an emotionally healthy childhood.
Through our programmes we teach children the essential skills to help them navigate life's challenges with resilience, compassion and confidence, empowering both the children and the adults who guide them to build a brighter, more empathetic future.
Let's make the early years count in the most meaningful way we can.
Shanley & Jenna
Co-Founders
Reflections
Heard from Our Community
Real words from the parents, teachers, and children who've experienced the Heart Matters difference.
Since Heart Matters started in the Nursery classes and is now also offered in the Pre R classes and as an extra mural for Gr R, we have found the girls more able to express their feelings. Their descriptive language about how and why they are feeling a certain way is greatly improved and they can manage and control their emotions much better. They try to be empathetic and caring, and want to be gentle, kind friends to their peers. The teachers love the programme and find all the facilitators to be lovely, kind ladies who are very insightful and offer advice on how to understand the behaviour of some of the girls.
Diane Viljoen
Springfield Pre-Primary Principal
What they
have to say
The Heart Matters programme has been an incredible addition to our curriculum for the 4–5-year-olds. It is so heartwarming each week to hear the girls expressing their feelings and growing in confidence. It really fills me with pride when I hear them using the Heart Matters language in the playground and to see the empathy, kindness, and emotional awareness that are developing as a result. This resonates so strongly with what I strive for as a teacher…to help nurture strong, confident, kind, and empathetic little people who are equipped to build positive relationships and navigate the world around them.
Mrs Ruscoe
Springfield Convent Pre-Primary
Heart Matters has become a valued part of life at Kildare. Through this wonderful programme, our children have developed important skills in understanding their feelings, building friendships and growing in confidence.
This impact often extends beyond the classroom, with parents sharing positive feedback about the difference Heart Matters has made at home.
It is truly a positive and enriching asset to our school community.
We love Heart Matters at Kildare.
Heather Porter
Kildare Pre-Primary Principal
