Reflections from Our Foundational Skills Program: Empowering Young Minds for Future Success
BY |Sept 19, 2024 |
At Luminara Academy, we believe in nurturing the whole child, equipping them with essential life skills that go beyond traditional academics. This July, we had the privilege of hosting our Foundational Skills Program, a week-long journey of self-discovery and growth for young learners. Let’s take a look at the transformative experiences our participants encountered each day.
Day 1: Emotional Literacy - Understanding the Mind-Body Connection
Our program kicked off with an exploration of emotional literacy, guided by the expert Natacha Pennycooke. Through engaging activities like body mapping, our young participants began to recognize the intricate connections between their feelings, thoughts, and body sensations.
The highlight of the day was watching the children map out where they experience emotions like joy, sadness, fear, and anger in their bodies. Some even identified areas where they feel anxiety, demonstrating a remarkable level of self-awareness. This exercise underscored the importance of recognizing emotional signals early on, setting the stage for healthy emotional growth and resilience. It also emphasized the depth of emotions children experience and the need to actively listen to them.
Day 2: Mindset and Mental Resilience - Empowering Thoughts
On our second day, Liz Durbano from Level Up Athletics led an innovative session on mindset and mental resilience. Through a unique fitness activity that illustrates the power of thoughts, participants learned to distinguish between the thoughts in their minds and the feelings in their bodies.
This hands-on approach helped the children understand how our thoughts can either empower or limit us, reinforcing the crucial role of a positive mindset in overcoming life’s challenges. The session laid a strong foundation for developing mental resilience, an essential skill for personal growth and success.
Day 3: Empathy and Communication - Stepping into Others' Shoes
The third day focused on cultivating empathy and enhancing communication skills. Jessica Whelan & Samantha Hulst from the “Canary Kids Club” facilitated powerful exercises using their Empathy Toy, helping our students step into others’ perspectives, experience the world from different perspectives, transform their approach to frustration, and deepen their understanding of empathy.
We also addressed the challenges many kids face today with fundamental communication skills like active listening and maintaining eye contact. These exercises emphasized the importance of these skills in building both personal relationships and professional success.
Days 4 and 5: Leadership and Teamwork - Leveraging Individual Strengths
The final two days of our program were dedicated to exploring leadership styles and teamwork dynamics. Participants explored different leadership styles and learned how to recognize and leverage their individual strengths within a team setting, fostering a collaborative spirit. Leadership was presented as not just about taking charge but also about empowering others.
We delved deeper into communication, emphasizing the role of non-verbal cues and empathy in building trust and connections among team members. Participants understood how body language and tone of voice impact team interactions. Numerous active listening exercises helped participants hone this vital skill, often overlooked in today’s fast-paced, digital world.
Wrapping Up: Creativity and Teamwork in Action
To conclude our transformative week, we engaged in a comprehensive review of all we had learned. Participants then had the opportunity to express their insights through a creative activity, allowing for personal reflection and artistic expression.
The grand finale was an “Amazing Race” that put their newly acquired skills to the test. This exciting challenge required participants to work together, communicate effectively, and demonstrate empathy under pressure, showcasing the practical application of their learning.
Takeaways for Our Young Learners
As our Foundational Skills Program came to a close, it was clear that our participants had made remarkable strides in just one week. They left with a better understanding of their emotions, how to communicate effectively, why empathy is so important and how by changing a negative thought to a positive one, they can impact their feelings and ultimately behaviour towards that exact same situation.
These foundational skills will serve them well in all aspects of life, from academic pursuits to future careers and personal relationships. By recognizing their emotions, embracing a growth mindset, practicing empathy, and working effectively in teams, our young learners are now better equipped to face life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.
At Luminara Academy, we’re proud to play a part in nurturing these essential skills in the leaders of tomorrow. We look forward to seeing how our participants will continue to grow and apply these valuable lessons in their daily lives.
Remember, every great journey begins with a single step. This week-long program was just the beginning of a lifelong journey of personal growth and development for our young learners. Our hope is for them to continue to reflect and practice what they learnt. We will continue to offer more programs and resources to support our future generation.
