What today’s children need…
You are reading this article online; you are in the digital era!
The technology dependence has hit us all, the old as well as the young. As adults we still have the ability to try and refrain ourselves but for children it is a never ending battle. The temptation to be hooked on to the gadgets is too high and the will power to divert the mind towards things involving human interaction, creative or physical activities is too low. This is leading to passive lifestyle, lack in social and emotional development and various health issues.
In such a scenario, schools have a huge responsibility of filling that gap and providing ample opportunities for face to face interaction, where the children are able to share their emotions, feelings, ideas and thoughts. The school needs to focus on moving the students from passive consumers to active creators.
Today’s children’s needs are not just intellectual but also psychological and social. As a Head of the Institution, teachers not only play a crucial role in the intellectual development of students but also help to build the personality of the students, aiding them in their academic as well as personal growth. Keeping this in mind I encourage every teacher in my school to create a positive teacher-student bonding and address these needs in every child to motivate them to maximize the learning potential.
At Glentree Academy, the Learning for Life Curriculum integrates all the developmental domains with academic learning. This kind of balanced learning not only meets their developmental needs but also make the children be inquisitive learners and deep thinkers. In this fast-paced era, children should be mentally strong and equip themselves to face all challenges and hurdles of life and schools should ensure to make them strong global citizens. I strongly believe that only experiences can provide the opportunities which will aid in self-development. As Dr.Abdul Kalam said “The purpose of education is to make good human beings with skill and expertise…” And that’s what we will strive for.

Sowmia Raguraman