
3rd June 2024
Is Your Child Ready for Tomorrow’s World? Discover the Power of Social-Emotional Learning
Imagine this: Your 5-year-old daughter comes home from school visibly upset. When you ask what’s wrong, she takes a deep breath, looks you in the eye, and says, “I’m feeling frustrated because I couldn’t finish my drawing today. But I know tomorrow is another chance to try again.” You’re amazed at her emotional awareness and resilience. This is the magic of social-emotional learning (SEL) in action.
It’s a fancy term for something simple yet powerful: teaching kids to understand and manage their feelings, get along with others, and make good choices.
At ILA, we see these incredible moments every day. We’re not just helping kids ace their ABCs and 123s—we’re teaching them life skills that will help them become kind, confident, and capable individuals.
So, what exactly is this social-emotional learning, or SEL as we often call it?
Think of SEL as a toolbox for life. Just like we teach kids to read and write, we also teach them how to:
- Understand their feelings and those of others
- Set goals and work towards them
- Show kindness and understanding to their friends and family
- Build and keep good relationships
- Make smart choices, even when it’s tough
It’s like giving your child a superpower—the ability to navigate the ups and downs of life with confidence and grace.
The ILA Approach
Now, you might wonder, “How do you teach something as complex as emotions to young children?” At ILA, we have a simple answer: we make it engaging!
Our integrated approach to learning is grounded in the Montessori methodology, fostering significant behavioural development by creating a child-centred learning environment. Learning environments are designed to allow children to engage with thoughtfully designed scholastic materials every step of the way. This approach encourages independent learning, patience, and sharing, which is taken a step further by having singular learning materials for each activity in every learning environment. This encourages children to learn to wait their turn and share, promoting empathy and social interaction, while teachers act as guides, observing and supporting each child’s unique developmental needs. This learning setup, with accessible and organised materials, also encourages responsibility and accountability as children learn to clean up after activities.
As children transition from Montessori to Primary grades, this foundational philosophy evolves while still maintaining the core values of empathy, patience, and responsibility through all their interactions in the classroom.
Here are some activities that can work well to continue the learning beyond the classroom, at home and in external social situations:
- Emotion Charades:
Engage children to act out different feelings, learning to recognise emotions in themselves and others. It’s like a fun game of guess-the-feeling! - Mindful Minute:
Teach children simple breathing exercises to help them calm down when feeling overwhelmed. It’s like a mini vacation for their minds! - Story Circle:
Use stories to explore different situations and feelings, helping kids understand others’ perspectives. It’s empathy-building disguised as storytime!
Building Empathy: The Heart of Leadership
At the core of our approach is empathy—the ability to understand and share others’ feelings. We believe this is the foundation of good leadership, and every child has the potential to be a leader in their own unique way.
Through our consciously designed learning environments children learn to:
- Recognise their own emotions and those of others
- Listen attentively to their friends and family
- See things from different points of view
- Turn their understanding into kind actions
A Parent’s Story
Let’s hear from Priya, mother of 6-year-old Aarav, an ILA student:
“Before ILA, Aarav often had meltdowns when things didn’t go his way. I was at my wit’s end. But after a few months enrolled in the ILA Montessori, the change has been incredible. Aarav now, always insists on washing his hands before meals and makes sure to put his toys away after playing. He has become noticeably more patient and understanding, especially when it comes to sharing his toys, because he experiences similar scenarios at school where there is a clear need to wait his turn and share learning materials. It’s these little changes that I think will have the biggest impact in the long run. The way I see it, ILA has helped my son develop lifelong habits and a sense of perspective that I wish I had learned at his age.”
Beyond the Classroom
Our approach is woven into every part of the school day. Located in the heart of HSR Layout in Bangalore, our modern, welcoming campus is designed to make children feel safe to explore and grow.
But we know that learning doesn’t stop when school ends. That’s why we’re always working with parents to support them with their child’s emotional growth at home. Offering them advice and insight along with information on activities they can do as a family to reinforce what their child learns at school.
Investing in Your Child’s Future
Research shows that children who develop these social and emotional skills tend to do better in school, have healthier relationships, make wiser decisions, handle stress better, and even find more success in their future careers.
By choosing ILA, parents are not just preparing their children for good grades—they’re setting them up for a happy, successful life.
Join the ILA Family
At ILA, we’re more than just teachers—we’re partners in your child’s journey. We’re here to nurture not just your child’s mind but also their heart. Together, we can help your child become a kind, confident, and capable individual ready to take on the world.
Ready to give your child these superpowers for life? Contact us today to learn more about the school and how it can benefit your child. Let’s work together to unlock your child’s full potential and set them on the path to becoming the leaders of tomorrow.
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