THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF SCHOOL IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT
School plays a crucial role in child development, shaping their cognitive, social, and emotional growth and providing a nurturing environment for their overall well-being. From academic learning to fostering social skills, the role of school in child development is significant. Discover the significant impact school has in shaping the future of children and their holistic development.
What is Child Development?
Child development refers to the process of growth and maturation that occurs in children from birth through adolescence. It encompasses the cumulative changes that occur in various domains, including physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects, as children grow throughout the years. Genetics, environment, and experiences are interplaying together to shape children's abilities, skills, and behaviors. The schools and their pedagogical team play a crucial role in the environment and experiences that the child will encounter during his childhood.
The role of school in child development
Schools play a pivotal role in the holistic development of children, providing a structured environment that nurtures their intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth, and equips them with essential skills and knowledge for their future thanks to the experiences each child will live at school. Below, we outline the different areas of child development and what is the role of school in child development.
Cognitive and academic development:
Schools contribute to the cognitive and academic development of children in several key ways.
First of all, school as its primary goal is here to provide a pedagogical education to children. In this regard, the school fosters intellectual development with a structured and organized learning environment where children can acquire knowledge, develop cognitive skills, and enhance their academic performance. Teachers play a crucial role by delivering effective instruction, facilitating learning experiences, and providing individualized support to meet the diverse needs of students.
Additionally, schools offer resources, curriculum, and assessments that help children progress academically and prepare them for future educational pursuits.
In the case of multilingual schools, children are also exposed to multiple languages from an early age, promoting language acquisition and proficiency. Learning multiple languages in a multilingual school requires children to develop cognitive skills such as attention, memory, and executive functions. These cognitive skills are transferable and can support academic abilities in areas like reading, comprehension, math, and problem-solving.
Social and emotional development
By providing a structured environment where children interact with peers, the school has a significant impact on the social and emotional development of children: it fosters social skills, empathy, and teamwork.
Also, through activities like group projects and extracurricular activities such as sports, arts, music, drama, and clubs, schools promote collaboration, leadership, and self-expression.
Thirdly, schools offer guidance from teachers and counselors, helping children navigate emotions, develop resilience, and build positive relationships.
Schools play a significant role in the personality development of children through various means.
Firstly, schools offer opportunities for children to explore their interests, talents, and passions, fostering a sense of self-discovery and personal growth with the numerous extracurricular activities that can exist.
Moreover, through interactions with teachers, peers, and diverse social environments, schools shape children’s social skills, values, and ethics, influencing the development of their character, resilience and empathy abilities.. By providing a nurturing and supportive environment, schools contribute to the building of children’s personalities, helping them grow into confident, responsible, and well-rounded individuals.
Moral and cultural improvement
Schools have a significant impact on the moral and cultural development of children. They provide a platform for learning and understanding diverse values, beliefs, and perspectives. Through education, exposure to different cultures, and fostering a sense of empathy, schools help children develop a strong moral compass, respect for others, and an appreciation for cultural diversity.
Schools also provide opportunities for children to learn about their own culture as well as the cultures of others. By celebrating cultural events, and fostering an inclusive environment, schools promote cultural awareness, respect, and appreciation. Through interactions with peers from different backgrounds, children gain a broader perspective, develop cross-cultural communication skills, and become more open-minded.
Additionally, a multilingual school cultivates a sense of global citizenship, encouraging children to appreciate and engage with diverse cultures, contributing to their moral and cultural development and nurturing a broader worldview.
How can parents help their child in the development stage?
Before starting here, we would like to remember that every child is unique, so it's important to understand and appreciate their individual strengths, interests, and developmental pace. Here are five key points for parents to support their child's development:
Create a nurturing and supportive environment at home where your child feels loved, respected, secure and listened to. Provide consistent and positive interactions, as well as routines when they are young,
Engage actively in your child’s life by participating in activities that stimulate their curiosity, creativity, and learning. We know that parenting can sometimes be struggling and that it can be difficult to find the right work-life balance so we encourage parents to spend quality time with their child if the quantity cannot be as important as they wish. During this time, we advise parents to encourage open communication, listen attentively, and show genuine interest in their child’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Foster your children’s independence by giving them age-appropriate responsibilities and encouraging them to make choices and solve problems on their own. Support their autonomy while providing guidance and setting reasonable expectations to promote self-confidence and a sense of competence.
Promote a Love for Learning
Expose your child to a variety of educational experiences by reading, playing educational games, exploring nature, visiting museums, and encouraging curiosity and exploration. Celebrate their achievements and provide positive reinforcement for their efforts.
Foster Social Skills
Help your child develop social skills by promoting positive interactions with peers and adults. Teach them empathy, kindness, and respect for others. Encourage participation in group activities, sports, and clubs, which foster teamwork, communication, and cooperation.
The journey of nurturing and educating children is long, requiring tolerance and love. Read La Petite Ecole’s article to explore more the positive parenting explained, understand your child’s emotions, and build a strong bond with them.
Build a Bright Future for Your Child with La Petite Ecole
In conclusion, school plays a crucial role in child development, shaping cognitive, social, and emotional growth. It provides a nurturing environment, fostering knowledge acquisition, skills development, and personality cultivation. Parents' support and schools' influence contribute to the holistic development of children, highlighting the role of school in child development. La Petite Ecole, with its nurturing environment and focus on individual development, contributes and emphasizes this important role in several ways:
With its pedagogy run by two native teachers (or teachers with an expert level) per class, one French-speaking and one English-speaking, the school provides a truly multilingual environment, allowing children to acquire and use both French and English naturally, with also an initiation to Vietnamese for all students starting Early Years school. This approach enhances their cognitive abilities, linguistic skills, and cultural understanding.
French Excellency with a multidisciplinary approach
La Petite Ecole teaches the French National curriculum which offers a comprehensive program that includes academic subjects, music, art, and languages. This multidisciplinary approach nurtures children’s creativity, critical thinking, and overall cognitive development.
Strong Values and Autonomy
La Petite Ecole encourages innovation, and fosters autonomy. The school values the well-being of each child and implements a unique pedagogical system that promotes independence, curiosity, and motivation.
The school emphasizes co-education, fostering a strong partnership between families and the school. Regular community events organized in collaboration with the Parents’ Association team, open mornings, and parent coffee talks ensure continuity and complementarity in education.
La Petite Ecole provides a quality learning environment with spacious classrooms, dedicated activity rooms, libraries with a wide range of books in French, English & Vietnamese, sports facilities, and outdoor spaces. These facilities support children’s physical, social, and intellectual growth.
Overall, La Petite Ecole strives to create a warm, green, and stimulating environment where each child is cared for and their love for learning is nurtured, contributing to their overall development and preparing them for future success.
As part of the French Odyssey Group, La Petite Ecole equally prepares students to enter either a French Lycée (or any other school from the AEFE network) or an IB school after 5th Grade. Since June 2023, La Petite Ecole got the official accreditation by the French Ministry of National Education for all its classes (from Early Years to Grade 5th), as the recognition of the ongoing commitment to educational excellence and the dedication to the well-being and academic success of each student.
To learn more about our curriculum tailored to each developmental stage, please contact La Petite Ecole for dedicated expert advice.
School address: 172-180 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City.
- U.S. Department of Education, https://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/index.html
- Barac, R., & Bialystok, E. (2012). Bilingual effects on cognitive and linguistic development: Role of language, cultural background, and education. Child Development, 83(2), 413-422.
- This study investigates the cognitive and linguistic benefits of bilingualism in children from different language backgrounds, highlighting advantages in problem-solving, cognitive flexibility, and attentional control.
- Bialystok, E., Craik, F. I., & Luk, G. (2012). Bilingualism: Consequences for mind and brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 16(4), 240-250.
- Adesope, O. O., Lavin, T., Thompson, T., & Ungerleider, C. (2010). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the cognitive correlates of bilingualism. Review of Educational Research, 80(2), 207-245.