At TGS, cultivating relationships between students, teachers, and family is an important part of everything we do. Children learn how to make friends and build and maintain healthy relationships, which are skills they can carry with them throughout their lives. Building bonds with others provides opportunities for our little ones to learn about themselves and even helps to build character and compassion.
Social and Emotional Learning
Social-Emotional Learning, or SEL, acknowledges the emotional side of learning and is a part of the curriculum at The Gardner School. Integrating SEL into the classroom has been associated with improvements in overall academic performance, reading skills, and relationship building. Our daily enrichment activities give children a chance to build strong relationships as they learn new skills. TGS helps give children engaging strategies to help them practice resilience and optimism. Our students practice naming emotions, sharing their feelings, showing gratitude, and identifying positive traits in themselves and others.
There are also plenty of things you can do at home to teach your children how to build healthy friendships. Of course, building your own strong relationship with your preschooler is a wonderful way to help them improve their social-emotional skills.
Inclusive Environment
Incorporating inclusion into early education is one of the best ways to raise empathetic children who can thrive in the world we live in today. At TGS, we create an atmosphere designed to ensure every child feels welcomed, valued, and supported. Our curriculum embraces different learning styles and abilities. We partner with parents to ensure we understand each child’s needs, and we treat every student as the unique individual that they are.
Model Social Skills
TGS teachers and staff serve as positive role models for our students. By demonstrating kindness, respect, and effective communication, our teachers help children learn how to interact positively with others. Our teachers also understand the importance of social skills. To help build those skills, we facilitate child-directed playtime in the classroom and ample indoor and outdoor play. With plenty of opportunities to play, children can build friendships and practice communicating with each other.
Community Involvement
During preschool, children learn a lot about themselves through their interactions with others. TGS helps children discover the world around them and offers unique learning opportunities so every child can determine who they are and what they like. We often invite local community members like zookeepers, firefighters, or local artists to visit the children at school, which is always a hit! These visits provide an opportunity for hands-on learning and help create a deeper sense of community connection.
The Gardner School also works closely with non-profit organizations throughout the academic year, including Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, food banks, and other nonprofits in the communities we serve. Children get involved in fundraising and donation efforts for these organizations. Their involvement creates a sense of social responsibility, expands their worldview, and instills empathy and compassion. When children see the positive impact they can make on others’ lives through their contributions, it boosts their self-esteem and confidence.
The Gardner School Helps Foster Relationship-Building Skills
The Gardner School is a safe environment for children to develop essential social and teamwork skills. Our warm and caring teachers are experienced early childhood educators who help students reach intellectual, physical, and social milestones. Click here to schedule a tour at The Gardner School closest to you or request more information.