Alexander Zheltov, Founder, Educate Online

Education, in its conventional form, has usually emphasised academic performance as the key measure of success, overlooking critical components of a child’s growth. This traditional approach fails to prepare children for the emotional, social and collaborative challenges they might face in the future. Such constraints underline the need for holistic learning, a more comprehensive approach that extends beyond academics.

As a transformative approach, holistic education helps children develop the interpersonal skills required for personal and professional success. It includes fostering emotional intelligence, communication skills and social awareness in children, preparing them to succeed in dynamic circumstances. In contrast to traditional educational techniques, holistic education emphasises students’ academic achievements while also developing their intellectual, emotional and social skills. This, in turn, implies that this educational approach bridges the gap between academic knowledge and practical application, helping students to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

Power of Emotional Intelligence

Today, emotional intelligence (EI) has become vital for students to stay competitive in any scenario. It involves the management and expression of a person’s emotions while identifying and influencing the emotions of others. A student with good EI can think critically and mitigate challenges by managing stress, staying focused and making sensible decisions in high-pressure scenarios. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, students can make intelligent and well-informed choices regarding their careers by incorporating EI.

In this interconnected world, students with good EI have the ability to recognise and accept different cultures. Schools and colleges that focus on the development of students’ EI help them become socially responsible and empathetic citizens.

Following are some of the ways that can be used by parents to instil EI in children:

• Children learn by observing the adults around them. Parents can showcase healthy emotional behaviours by properly expressing their feelings, controlling stress and demonstrating empathy.
• Parents may help children develop a diverse emotional vocabulary by teaching them the names of various emotions. They can accomplish this objective through literature, games and casual chats.
• Mindfulness practices like deep breathing, meditation and yoga can help children stay calm and focused. These activities also promote self-awareness and emotional management.

Social and Communication Skills: Building Relationships

Students must develop strong social and efficient communication skills, essential for building relationships. This plays an essential role when working in groups and navigating social situations. These skills help a child’s cognitive development and determine what profession they choose in the future.

In addition, communication skills are essential for children’s professional growth. As per a report titled Communication in the Workplace Statistics 2024, 86 per cent of employees cited the lack of effective communication as the main reason behind business failures. On the other hand, teams that focus on communicating effectively can enhance their productivity by 25 per cent. These statistics highlight the importance of effective communication skills for employment success.

Here are some of the best ways that parents can utilise to help them:

• Teach the child how to properly greet individuals such as grandparents, teachers, street sweepers and others.
• Role-play scenarios imitate real-life instances to help students develop empathy and deliver appropriate social responses. By engaging children in role-playing common social scenarios, parents and educators can teach relevant behaviours.
• Encourage open conversations at home. This will ensure that children feel valued and heard.

Intellectual Development: Need of the Hour

The ability to reason, analyse and solve issues in an appropriate order is often referred to as the logical aptitude. It works as a foundation for intellectual development. These abilities are important because they help children differentiate between right and wrong. Students with strong logical reasoning skills do better in thinking, reasoning, math, problem-solving and communication tasks. Moreover, students with these abilities are better equipped to cope with real-world problems, analyse critically and devise solutions. While educational institutions use math and science to foster intellectual development among students, here’s what parents can do to help their children achieve the same:

• Introduce puzzles and board games to make learning fun. For instance, games like chess can enhance problem-solving abilities in children, preparing them for real-life scenarios.
• Discuss daily challenges and current events to engage them in analytical thinking.

In conclusion, holistic education is an evolutionary shift that redefines the learning objective. By merging interpersonal skill development and academic knowledge, this educational approach helps students prepare for the potential challenges of life. Skills like emotional intelligence, communication and critical thinking skills are not optional but imperative to succeed in life. As parents and educators, it’s essential to approach education holistically, where the focus should be on developing real-world scenarios that help children evolve not merely as learners but also as empathetic and well-rounded individuals.

Also read: Growing awareness of holistic education