Source:Importance of School, Family and Community collaboration in education – Grade Bees
As a parent or an educator, you know that children need to develop skills beyond academic excellence. These skills, often referred to as “soft skills,” include social-emotional skills, communication abilities, critical thinking, problem-solving, and more. Research indicates that soft skills can significantly impact children’s future success in school, career, and life. As such, creating a holistic and collaborative approach to cultivating these skills is crucial. This is where parents and the broader community come in.
Collaborating with parents and community members to support the development of transferable soft skills in children can yield tremendous benefits. In this blog post, we will discuss practical approaches to involve parents, caregivers, and the wider community in supporting children in building the skills they need for a bright future.
Create Open Channels of Communication
Communication is a crucial element in any successful collaboration. Parents and community members who are unaware of how they can contribute to children’s soft skills development are unlikely to make meaningful contributions. Education stakeholders mustn’t assume that everyone knows where to start. Educators need to take the initiative to create open communication channels that enable parents to understand soft skills’ importance, how they impact a child’s holistic development, and how parents and communities can contribute.
Get the Community Involved
The wider community can be an excellent resource for children to develop soft skills. Consider forming partnerships with local organizations to open up more opportunities for children to learn and develop these skills. Community groups can provide resources and support for after-school activities, clubs, and youth programs, which offer opportunities to learn and practice valuable soft skills. Additionally, community organizations can offer mentorship and internship opportunities, letting children gain real-world experience and practice in communication, teamwork, and more.
Organize Parent Workshops
Parents, like teachers, must play an active role in supporting their children’s soft skills development. Yet, it can be challenging for parents to understand precisely what this entails and how to do so. As such, hosting workshops or training sessions can be beneficial. These workshops could cover topics like developing good communication habits at home or fostering a growth mindset in children. These learning opportunities can help parents identify ways that they can support the development of soft skills in their children.
Encourage Collaboration in Classroom Activities
Soft skill development isn’t only dependent on what happens outside the classroom. Teachers can create spaces for children to practice skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and more through group assignments or collaborative projects. Parents can also support collaborative assignments by providing guidance and supervision where necessary. Encouraging parents to get involved in classroom activities can significantly improve children’s outcomes and holistic development.
Value and Recognize Soft Skill Development
Soft skills are often referred to as “invisible skills,” mainly because they’re not assessed by traditional academic measures. Yet, beyond developing them, it’s crucial to recognize and value these skills. Celebrating children’s achievements in developing soft skills reinforces their importance and motivates them to continue developing these skills. Educators can create recognition programs and awards highlighting soft skills. Parents can also reinforce soft skills development at home by recognizing and praising their children’s efforts.
Collaborating with parents and community members to support the development of soft skills benefits not only individual children but also their schools and wider communities. By establishing open communication channels, creating meaningful partnerships with community organizations, conducting parent workshops, encouraging classroom collaboration, and valuing skill development, teachers can help build a brighter future for our kids. Let’s come together and create a more holistic approach to education, one where transferable skills are valued as highly as traditional academic metrics.
