As a teacher and as a parent, I pray about how best I can serve and teach the children with whom I've been entrusted. God's word spoke to me recently. James 1:19 says, "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters, you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." I want to listen better (to God and others), to think about my words and to show wisdom when speaking, and to be slow to become angry (and when I do, handle the emotion appropriately).
Not only do these words provide practical guidance for us, but also for our children. Preschool is not just about learning our ABCs and counting, but it is also an important time for children to develop and practice their social skills. I came across the list below and thought that it provided a very concrete example of social skills our children need in order to be successful.
Skills for Preschool and Elementary School Kids
Vanderbilt University found the top 10 social skills kids need to succeed in school, based on surveys of 8,000 elementary teachers and two decades of classroom research, are:
- Listen to others
- Follow the steps
- Follow the rules
- Ignore distractions
- Ask for help
- Take turns when you talk
- Get along with others
- Stay calm with others
- Be responsible for your behavior
- Do nice things for others
These might seem like social skills promoted just to turn out "nice girls and boys" who earn the "gets along with others" check on their report cards, but they're fundamental behaviors that help kids succeed (not just survive) in a world that emphasizes social norms. The goal isn't just to make them cooperative, but to hone their social GPS so they can both advocate for themselves and care for others.
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