Education is a child’s best path out of poverty and a key to a nation’s health and growth. But far too many obstacles stand in the way of children exercising this right.
Early learning paves the way for learning at school and throughout life. A whole child approach prioritizes children’s social-emotional, cognitive and physical development.
Language and Literacy
Early language and literacy development is the foundation for a lifetime of learning. Research shows that children who experience rich and engaging language and literacy-learning environments are more likely to succeed academically, have higher cognitive skills, and become proficient readers.
Educators should create opportunities for children to interact with language through reading aloud, fostering conversations about books, and encouraging creative writing. Activities like sensory play, art projects, and science experiments support curiosity and imagination.
Children who are exposed to literacy-rich environments are also more likely to have strong social relationships. This contributes to their overall mental and emotional wellbeing, as well as to their ability to solve problems and make decisions. Education nurtures personal growth and empowers individuals to take up new challenges. It also enhances economic opportunity and drives innovation, reducing poverty and inequalities. Education is a right, regardless of a child’s gender, background, or location. It is the key to unlocking children’s full potential.
Thinking Skills
Children use critical thinking skills to understand and make sense of their world. When kids think critically, they are better equipped to communicate their thoughts and ideas with others. This supports their language development, according to an article by early language and literacy non-profit Hanen Centre. When children have the ability to break down a problem, they can develop creative solutions. For example, if they want to play basketball but don’t have a ball, kids might use their critical thinking skills to create something else like a paper cup and hoop.
Kids also develop critical thinking when they learn to evaluate information and make decisions. They can be more confident weighing options, considering other points of view and evaluating evidence, and they become empowered to take on challenges, says the Hanen Centre. Developing this skill prepares them for lifelong learning. It also helps them handle real-life situations and adapt to an ever-changing world. They’ll be able to analyze, evaluate and take advantage of opportunities to thrive.
Social-Emotional Skills
Social-emotional skills are about forming and maintaining relationships with others and understanding and managing emotions. Kids who have strong emotional foundations develop healthy peer groups, positive romantic relationships and productive work relationships as adults.
In schools, SEL is taught through a variety of means. Educators lead lessons on empathy, conflict resolution and other important topics and then coach kids through real-life scenarios so they can put these skills into practice.
Teachers also work with parents to ensure that kids learn and practice these important life skills at home. This may look like demonstrating how to say please and thank you, modeling appropriate behavior, and encouraging the use of words to communicate feelings. In addition, parents can support social-emotional development by taking care of their own mental health and seeking treatment when needed. Kids who struggle with impulsivity, for example, can benefit from individualized SEL support and treatment by a mental health professional.
Physical Health
Students who participate in regular physical activity have a better chance of thriving in their learning. This is because exercise releases endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals that improve mood and enhance cognitive function. This is why incorporating physical education into the educational curriculum is so important for children.
Throughout physical activities, children learn about the body’s health-related fitness components like muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, joint flexibility, and body composition. They also learn about performance-related fitness components such as balance, agility, speed of movement, and body awareness.
Through collaborative games like passing a ball, playing hopscotch, or counting how high their partner can hula hoop, kids also build teamwork skills and practice working together toward a common goal. This enables them to succeed in their personal and professional lives where collaboration is crucial for success. This helps children develop a healthy mindset about their bodies, so they are more likely to exercise regularly and adopt other healthy lifestyle behaviors that contribute to their overall well-being.