Myth Busters: 4 Common Misconceptions About Human Skills Programs

It’s well documented that human skills programs benefit kids and schools in a wide variety of ways. On a broad level, they’ve been shown to boost academic motivation and performance, reduce behavioral incidents and chronic absenteeism, and improve school climate. On an individual level, they help kids become more connected, mature, and well-rounded human beings.

Despite these well-established benefits, misconceptions about human skills programs are still common.

Educators and families have a right to ask questions about any educational program, and the Second Step® team welcomes any questions, concerns, and differing perspectives. Above all, our goal is to help educators and families understand the meaningful benefits of strong human skills so they can better support the kids in their homes, classrooms, and communities. Addressing concerns and doubts is a great way to deepen that understanding.

Here are four common “myths” about human skills programs, followed by an explanation of their impact based on research and the experiences of educators in the Second Step community.

Myth 1: Human skills instruction takes time away from academic instruction

Reality: Human skills programs aim to deepen and support academic learning and instruction. When students strengthen skills like problem-solving, executive function, and communication, those abilities have a direct and positive impact on academic growth.

When students engage in a Second Step lesson and practice skills like goal-setting or collaboration, they’re building abilities that transfer directly to academic work. Second Step programs are designed to integrate smoothly into existing curricula, with lessons and activities that can connect to core subjects alongside direct human skills instruction.

Myth 2: Human skills programs make kids “soft”

Reality: Human skills programs help kids become more well-rounded. Human skills education is based on the principle that skills are connected and complementary. Take empathy and resilience, for example—two skills that are closely related even though they may seem very different.

Empathy—the ability to understand and relate to another person’s experience—helps kids recognize that other people face and overcome challenges every day, just like they do. Realizing this helps them put their own challenges in perspective, which is a key mental process that supports resilience. In other words, understanding other people’s struggles can help kids overcome their own.

Empathy doesn’t make kids weaker. Rather, it supports resilience. By strengthening a variety of connected skills, Second Step programs help kids become more well-rounded and better prepared to handle challenges with confidence and determination.

Myth 3: Parents, not schools, should teach human skills

Reality: Families absolutely play a critical role in helping kids develop human skills—but schools are essential partners in that process. Human skills instruction in schools complements what students learn at home. Educators can provide structure, modeling, and guided practice that help students apply skills like communication, problem-solving, and emotion regulation in social settings and classrooms.

When schools and families work together, students receive consistent reinforcement of these skills across the environments where they spend the most time. That partnership is essential in supporting students’ growth and well-being.

Myth 4: Human skills can’t really be taught

Reality: Human skills aren’t fixed personality traits. They’re learnable abilities that grow through practice, feedback, and reflection. Just like academic skills, students improve when they’re given opportunities to learn, practice, and apply human skills over time.

Research and classroom experience consistently show that structured human skills instruction helps students strengthen prosocial skills, such as emotion regulation, responsible decision-making, and collaboration. With guided lessons, real-world examples, and opportunities to practice in everyday situations, students develop skills that become part of how they process, interact, and behave.

Understanding the reality of human skills programs

Misconceptions about human skills and related skill-building programs are understandable, especially as schools continue to evolve to meet students’ changing needs. But research and classroom experience continue to show that strengthening human skills with Second Step programs helps students thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.

To learn more about how Second Step programs can help turn transformative outcomes into reality in your district, please get in touch with our expert team today.