Whole Child Perspective –
One key to the whole child initiative that is significant for all levels of learners is their ability to engage with nature and community. At TMS, we support this initiative as it shifts the idea of education being primarily focused on academics to developing long term success and growth of the whole child. Our proposal is that by incorporating concepts such as project based learning, simulations, cooperative learning and opportunities to apply knowledge; these engaged students will progress through Foundational to Developmental and lastly to the Sustainability Principles of their lives.
The whole child perspective is more than what a child thinks and feels as a physical being. The following are concepts that may help or hinder progress as a child develops and must be considered when attempting to address issues in learning:
- social emotional well-being
- artistic and creative expression
- realistic goal setting
- communication skills
- stress
- parenting style
- manner of discipline
Nature has the ability to influence a child’s development based on their genetic makeup. However, the nurture aspect deals with the environmental conditions that aid in a child’s total development. Through various avenues nurture influences a child physically through nutrition, emotionally by the manner in which they deal with stress, socially through activities and experiences and intellectually through formal instruction. A combination of all of these qualities attribute to the whole child flourishing.