Preschoolers need to know social skills as well as academics
THE TEACHER asks your four-year-old to walk through a corridor by himself to go for his assessment to a classroom, which has a pile of toys in the middle. Will he do it or cling instead to mommy? If he walks to the pile of toys, will he grab them or first ask permission from the teacher to play with them? If another child joins him at play, will he share the toys or not?
The above situations are some of the ways top-rated elementary institutions in Metro Manila test a child for school readiness. The child’s response, in addition to how he does in other tests that measure his cognitive and physical abilities, will most likely determine whether he will be accepted into that institution or not.
Even at the kindergarten level, it is important for a child to have the social, physical and academic skills needed for early and ongoing success, says Ann Tan, managing director of Gymboree Philippines. “Most parents drill their children on their numbers and letters but unfortunately miss out on the social skills when preparing them to get into the big school,” she says.
The social skills include confidence, curiosity, self-control, communication, perseverance and cooperation. “These socio-emotional competencies equip young children with knowledge more fundamental than numbers or letters,” explains Tan. “These skills provide the young with the knowledge of how to learn. They serve as a solid foundation for future learning environments.”
At Gymboree’s 10 locations in Metro Manila and one outlet each in Cebu and General Santos, learning social skills begins even before a child’s first birthday. At that early age, babies come to class with their mommies or other significant caregivers. Activities include having both mom and baby sit apart on a mat. Mom is instructed to roll a ball to baby and to ask baby to roll it back. When baby responds, mom is asked to audibly express delight.
The nonverbal lesson, according to Tan, explores the first stages of communication and helps build baby’s confidence. She describes communication as the desire and ability to exchange ideas, feelings and concepts with others—verbally or otherwise. Good communication helps a child build trust and engage with others, including adults.
The exercise also helps a child gain confidence which is a sense of control and mastery of one’s body and behavior. When mom applauds, baby’s sense that he controls the ball is reinforced. Moreover, the same lesson tells the child in so many ways that “he can make things happen.
The 0-5 years Gymboree program was created in collaboration with US child development experts and help provide youngsters with the cognitive, social and physical skills appropriate for their age, according to www.gymboree-ph.com. Special courses to be conducted in the summer are now being offered and merit an early bird discount when purchased in February.