For a child’s holistic and overall development, parents need endless support from the child’s school and teachers. Kids spend most of their formative years in school, meeting new people and learning numerous social and cognitive skills. These skills help improve the children’s physical and mental growth. Singapore IB schools keep the child at the center of their curriculum and devise their pedagogy around the child’s well-being. To develop social skills, they need to be in an environment conducive to that. Singapore IB schools offer an environment that catalyzes social skill development while making the child seamlessly intermingle with the rest of the class.
Here are five social skills that every Singapore IB school must teach.
- The greeting should be willing and warm
A social interaction can’t commence without a friendly and warm greeting. These greetings are not limited to phrases like ‘hello,’ ‘good morning,’ ‘Bonjour,’ ‘Good evening,’ ‘Hey,’ or ‘Hi’ but encompass some non-verbal gestures such as tone and facial expressions, as well. One can easily distinguish between a warm greeting and a greeting devoid of emotion.
This greeting is a testament to the fact that actions speak louder than words and that one can say much more through expressions rather than words. When a child greets someone, it should be from the bottom of their heart so people feel their genuineness. So, a Singapore IB school will teach kids the purpose of warm greetings.
- The power to listen meticulously
Listening actively and paying attention is vital to maintaining an engaging and positive conversation. A school will teach students not just to hear to reply but to hear and listen to understand the speaker’s point of view. When you listen actively, it leaves no scope for ambiguity and gets rid of any confusion. This skill is also critical for the future when students have college or professional interviews. Students can frame responsive answers accordingly when they identify what the speakers are saying.
- The skill to empathize
This skill is indispensable to a child’s growth. Empathy goes a long way and is what separates efficient and successful leaders from the rest of the world. Empathy is the ability to acknowledge others’ feelings and then understand what they are going through and feel for them. An empathetic leader can win their subordinates’ trust by understanding their needs and being aware of their thoughts. A school will teach children to be compassionate towards other children’s feelings at a very young age.
- Developing problem-solving skills:
Being faced with obstacles and addressing those problems are other critical social skills taught to children. It brings to light the child’s analytical ability. Schools must present students with real-life situations and scenarios and understand what approach the child would take to address that issue. The problem needn’t be the most difficult, but the matter’s reaction will determine students’ problem-solving abilities. Schools teach students to have a positive and practical attitude towards solving problems rather than being drowned in chaos and getting overwhelmed.
- The power to say sorry
It is one of the best things a school can teach a student. It is good to make mistakes, realize you are wrong, and apologize for the same. In the long run, having an ego or being unable to accept that you are wrong can work against you, especially in a professional atmosphere. Teachers always ensure that kids say sorry and apologize when they do something wrong. To err is human, but to apologize is divine. It makes a child more respectful towards and mindful of others. Apologizing is showcased as a courageous act, not something that stems from weakness.