For many children around the world, access to quality education is a dream. Children who cannot go to school are at greater risk of poor health, poverty and social exclusion.
Current educational systems often focus on a narrow sliver of cognitive development through lessons in math, science and reading. But children are multidimensional “whole” beings who also need to grow in their relationships, identity and emotional understanding.
Self-Discipline
Self-discipline teaches children to follow through on their responsibilities, put needs before wants and achieve cherished goals. A child who develops self discipline can respond calmly to correction, learn from mistakes and overcome obstacles.
Parents and caregivers can help children develop their self-discipline by establishing a consistent structure, providing emotional coaching and setting clear expectations. They can also teach children to delay gratification and focus by modelling these skills.
It is important to match the discipline of a child to their intellectual capacity. Toddlers, for example, cannot understand why they should put on their hat in the sun and will not be able to stop themselves from interrupting or defying instructions.
Encourage your children to tackle difficult tasks with persistence rather than giving up after a few failures. Many of the programs that enhance young children’s self-control quotient have been developed with this in mind and show promising results. These include martial arts classes, music lessons and computer games that require patience and concentration.
Self-Confidence
Children that are confident have the ability to pursue their ambitions, act independently and resist peer pressure. This is accomplished by encouraging kids to take risks and step outside of their comfort zones, allowing them to access a treasure trove of dormant capabilities. It also enables them to learn that failure is a natural part of learning, giving them the resilience to tackle challenges head-on.
A child’s confidence is shaped by many factors, including their environment, experiences and the guidance they receive from adults in their lives. Parents and teachers are especially influential, as they model how to approach obstacles, setbacks and achievements.
Nurturing confidence is about more than providing a safe environment and offering encouragement; it’s also about helping kids to recognize their own efforts and celebrate even the slightest successes. For example, praising children for their persistence in solving a puzzle rather than just their final outcome nurtures the belief that they are capable and worthy of recognition.
Social Skills
The ability to communicate openly, understand social cues and express empathy help children build meaningful relationships in their personal and professional lives. Strong social skills are also a necessary prerequisite for success in school.
Developing social skills requires practice and experience. Children learn social skills through spontaneous experiences in everyday life and structured learning. For example, preschool and kindergarten are the first ongoing experiences children have with a large group of peers outside their families. They engage in play with their peers, learning to interact with others and share toys. This type of play is often sociodramatic, where kids cooperate to act out scenarios and take on roles.
These are the earliest traces of developing theory of mind (implicit and explicit), social perspective, and the capacity to make predictions about other people’s behavior. Children can learn these skills through role-playing and storytelling, and teachers can encourage their students to play with one another in a safe environment.
Independence
Developing independence is a long-term journey that is crucial for children to become confident, resilient, and self-sufficient. Parents can nurture this vital trait by providing their children with opportunities to practice life skills such as cooking a meal or doing their laundry, while offering guidance and safety tips.
Moreover, fostering independent thought nurtures creativity and allows children to be more assertive. This independence also enables them to discern between information and misinformation, shielding them from manipulation by peers or the media. This independence also enhances resilience and encourages them to tackle challenges positively, fostering a growth mindset.
Similarly, encouraging independence is also essential for developing organizational skills. Parents can support this by establishing a daily routine, such as waking up at the same time and following a checklist of tasks to complete each day. They can also teach their children the importance of prioritizing and focusing on the most important tasks first. This will help them improve their organizational abilities and learn to plan their work efficiently.