What is The Whole Child Approach to Education?

The “whole child approach” is a big idea in today’s education discussions. It is more than just academic success; it’s about helping students grow in every way – mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically.

The whole child approach ensures kids become well-rounded, confident people ready for whatever life throws their way.

In this article, we will cover the whole child approach to education definition, its importance, and how we can promote it at school and home.

Table Of Contents

What is the Whole Child Approach in Education?
The Importance of the Whole Child Approach in Education
How to Promote Whole Child Approach in Education at School
How to Promote Whole Child Approach in Education At Home
How UNIS Hanoi Supports the Whole Child Approach in Education

What is the Whole Child Approach in Education?

Whole child education is a popular approach that helps students develop broader life skills. It creates environments that promote children’s academic growth and cognitive, social and emotional, physical, mental, and identity development.

The media, policymakers, and educators might use different terms for whole child education, as many terms describe similar ideas.

These include deeper learning, social and emotional learning, character education, life skills, soft skills, and noncognitive skills.

What is the Whole Child Approach in Education?

The whole child approach to learning gives children the foundation they need to become well-rounded, healthy individuals equipped with a solid education and important life skills to help them reach their full potential.

The Importance of the Whole Child Approach in Education

The significance of adopting a whole child approach to education lies in recognising that children’s learning is influenced by instructional methods, interpersonal connections, and environmental settings.

According to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), the whole child approach to education ensures each student enters a learning environment that promotes physical and emotional well-being, fosters engagement with learning, facilitates personalised instruction, and cultivates academic preparedness for future endeavours.

Furthermore, an ecosystemic viewpoint emphasises how crucial schools influence kids’ development and how families, communities, and educational institutions must work harmoniously to support kids’ learning and development.

How to Promote Whole Child Approach in Education at School

The whole child approach within the educational setting necessitates concerted efforts to cultivate a conducive environment that nurtures holistic development.

Here are key strategies for promoting this approach:

Building a Positive Learning Environment

A positive school climate, characterised by a caring and culturally responsive community, supports holistic student development. In such an environment, students tend to feel valued, respected, and free from the constraints of social identity threats.

Implementing structures like looping with teachers, advisory systems, and small learning communities fosters continuity in relationships and consistency in practices, thereby reducing anxiety and facilitating engaged learning.

Additionally, building relational trust and respect among staff, students, and families through collegial support mechanisms and proactive outreach initiatives such as home visits and flexible meetings enhances the school community’s sense of belonging and purpose.

Encouraging Positive Behavior

Social and emotional learning (SEL) equips students with the skills and mindsets necessary for academic success and productive behaviour.

Explicit instruction in SEL competencies, including self-regulation, interpersonal skills, and growth mindset, helps students develop resilience and perseverance.

Encouraging Positive Behavior through Social and Emotional Learning

Integrating opportunities for practising these skills across various school activities and adopting educative and restorative approaches to classroom management fosters a sense of responsibility and community among students.

Boosting Motivation and Learning

Effective teaching strategies foster motivation, competence, and self-directed learning among students.

Designing meaningful and engaging tasks that connect to students’ prior knowledge and experiences promotes active participation and intrinsic motivation.

Using Effective Teaching Strategies to Boost Motivation and Learning

Incorporating inquiry-based learning alongside explicit instruction provides scaffolded opportunities for students to explore concepts and construct knowledge collaboratively.

Moreover, adopting a mastery approach to learning, coupled with timely feedback and opportunities for revision, cultivates a growth mindset and enhances metacognitive skills essential for lifelong learning.

Providing Custom Support for Students

Promoting holistic development requires acknowledging and addressing the unique needs of students, especially those who have experienced trauma and adversity.

Integrating services encompassing physical and mental health support and social services facilitates healthy development and mitigates learning barriers.

Providing Custom Support for Students Facing Trauma and Challenges

Moreover, implementing multitiered support systems within and outside the classroom ensures students receive tailored interventions to address their unique challenges and prevent developmental detours.

How to Promote Whole Child Approach in Education At Home

Encouraging holistic development extends beyond the school’s boundaries and into the home, where parents support their child’s development and well-being.

Here are key strategies for promoting a whole child approach to education at home:

Asking Questions That Encourage Discussion

Engage your child in meaningful conversations by asking open-ended questions that stimulate reflection and dialogue.

Instead of generic inquiries like “How was your day?” prompt your child to share their experiences and thoughts by asking questions such as “What is something interesting that happened to you today?” or “What is something you learned that you were fascinated by?” Encouraging deeper reflection enhances communication skills and promotes critical thinking.

Setting Limited Choices

Empower your child by offering them choices within reasonable limits.

Decision-making is a skill that improves with practice, so providing opportunities for your child to make small decisions enhances their executive function and prepares them for more significant choices in the future.

Encouraging autonomy by letting children choose their dinner vegetables or bedtime stories when young, and later allowing them to select elective courses or extracurricular activities, promotes independence and self-confidence.

Practicing Emotional Vocabulary at Home

Promote emotional intelligence development by naturally integrating a range of “feelings” vocabulary into everyday conversations, and encourage your child to articulate their emotions in various situations.

For example, when you notice signs of anger or sadness, validate their emotions and encourage them to verbalise their feelings. Additionally, use everyday opportunities to cultivate empathy and perspective-taking, such as discussing characters’ emotions in stories or analysing interpersonal interactions.

Creating Healthy Family Habits

Establish healthy habits as a family to promote physical and emotional well-being.

Encourage regular physical activity by participating in sports or active hobbies together, and educate your child about the importance of nutrition for optimal health.

Foster a supportive environment where healthy eating and active lifestyles are prioritised, reinforcing the connection between physical health and emotional well-being.

By modelling healthy habits and including them in decisions about exercise and eating, you may instil lifetime habits that support your child’s overall development.

Learning from Mistakes

View mistakes as opportunities for growth and learning within the family dynamic.

When your child makes a mistake, approach the situation empathetically and encourage reflection rather than blame.

Help your child understand the consequences of their actions and guide them towards taking responsibility and making amends.

Building an environment of responsibility and learning from mistakes gives your child the resilience and problem-solving abilities they need to face obstacles in all facets of life.

How UNIS Hanoi Supports the Whole Child Approach in Education

At UNIS Hanoi, the commitment to nurturing the whole child aligns closely with the essence of a holistic approach to education. Our educational beliefs underscore the importance of recognising children as natural inquirers and respecting their individual developmental journeys.

Our emphasis on education as a process rather than a race echoes the principles of the whole child approach to education, emphasising personalised growth and progress.

UNIS Hanoi supports the holistic development of its students by providing scaffolding for success from each child’s point of entrance and creating an atmosphere where students are inspired to consider their own significance.

How UNIS Hanoi Can Support the Whole Child Approach in Education

Through parent-teacher conferences, open days, and curriculum information meetings, we provide opportunities for parents to actively engage with the school community and contribute to their children’s educational journey.

We establish a nurturing environment that fosters the child’s intellectual, social, and emotional growth with the partnership approach to education. Explore our holistic education approach and apply for UNIS programmes today!