“Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of education.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

During many of our parent education events, we talk quite a bit about fostering the development of soft skills in our children. Soft skills – also referred to as “people skills” – include a person’s social graces, habits, personality traits, and interpersonal skills.

When thinking about education for our children, parents often have high academic aspirations. But of course, we also want our children to be good. This goes without saying. We want them to be caring, compassionate individuals. We want them to be problem-solvers and leaders. It may seem obvious to parents, but how many schools are actually focusing on developing these skills?

At Greenspring Montessori School, we are constantly emphasizing these values in our children. We’ve also provided more resources below showing how essential these skills are in our adult lives, and how to focus on their development with your child.

Articles:

“Are you raising nice kids?” – A Harvard psychologist gives 5 ways to raise children to be kind
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2014/07/18/are-you-raising-nice-kids-a-harvard-psychologist-gives-5-ways-to-raise-them-to-be-kind/

“Why What You Learned in Preschool Is Crucial at Work” – Sharing, working together, thinking critically… do these sound familiar?
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/18/upshot/how-the-modern-workplace-has-become-more-like-preschool.html?_r=0

“How Schools Are Handling An ‘Overparenting’ Crisis” – Living in the era of helicopter parenting
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/08/28/434350484/how-schools-are-handling-an-overparenting-crisis

“Opting Out of the ‘Rug Rat Race'”
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443819404577635352783638934

“The Gift of Failure”
http://www.jessicalahey.com/the-gift-of-failure/