Building Emotionally Stable, Inclusive, and Healthy Communities with ICT: From State of the Art to PSsmile App

There is an increasing interest in Social and Emotional learning (SEL) of youth across the world as testified by many international organizations and institutions. Research clearly shows that higher SEL is linked to successful participation in school life, better health, positive youth development. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the essential role of SEL into focus and has drawn attention to the need to take a more holistic approach to contrast unexpected and challenging situations. To pursue these goals, it is mandatory that adults acquire and apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes enhancing Social and Emotional competences. To enhance their contribution to social goods, ICTs applications should align with this perspectives’ taking. After providing a picture of main currently available tools, the paper presents the Erasmus+ PSsmile project, aimed at developing Social and Emotional competencies and contribute to building emotionally stable, inclusive, and healthy communities. PSsmile is also the name of the mobile application described in the paper with its five weeks program. It is based on the most relevant outcome within SEL studies, and recent theoretical approaches. It is aimed at raising parents and teachers’ awareness, promoting and strengthening their personal Social-Emotional competences making them more effective agents of positive growth for children and for their communities