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21 April

Soft Skills Development in Newtonshow Initiatives: From Play to Progress

Undoubtedly, soft skills are more important than you may imagine. A study by the Stanford Research Center, the Carnegie Foundation, and Harvard University revealed that only 15% of employment performance is derived from hard abilities and that 85% of success is determined by having well-developed soft and people skills. An additional study by the Social Business Skills Builder Partnership in collaboration with the CIPD revealed that individuals with greater soft skill levels earn an average of £4,600 more annually. 

Therefore, let's figure out together the list of soft skills, how they work, why they are so important for children, which types of skills are, and what qualities are the most important when teaching children.

What Are Soft Skills?

soft skills development

Teaching your kids critical soft skills as they grow helps them feel strong and capable in everything they do. Soft skills, like managing money and caring for themselves, are just as crucial as practical ones. These soft skills help us connect with others and succeed in life.

Soft skills are like people skills—they let us communicate and get along with others. If your child can connect with anyone, they'll stand out. Being curious, open, and good at working with others is like having extraordinary power.

Unlike hard skills, which are about jobs and school stuff, soft skills are often ignored because people think you're born with them. Things like understanding others and working together usually get overlooked, even though they're essential.

Understanding soft skills meaning is essential for successfully navigating social and professional interactions.

Why Are Soft Skills Essential?

soft skills development singapore

Soft skills are crucial since they are interpersonal skills that enable us to interact with people productively. They will assist teenagers in establishing connections with people, communicating, problem-solving, and situational adaptability.

According to leadership expert and soft skills trainer Helen Bryant, the fast-paced game of life presents a maze of problems for our children. The secret to their success is soft skills. These soft skills open doors to success in the workplace, school, and life. They are also the secret weapon for gaining friends.

How Do Soft Skills Work?

Children become more adept at acting out scenarios by utilizing soft skills in a school setting that emphasizes their growth in a lighthearted and enjoyable manner.

As an illustration of how soft skills may be developed and improved, consider the idea that if a youngster finds it challenging to speak in front of others, they should be supported in this process to get the self-assurance to do so in a friendly setting. 

A youngster who likes to monopolize situations and draw attention to himself might also benefit from the inverse of this scenario. By being placed as helpers, they can learn to lead in collaboration with peers and build empathy, which is a valuable social-emotional soft skill.

What is the Difference Between Soft Skills and Hard Skills?

Before we go any further with the discussion of soft skills, it is essential to realize that there is another word that speaks to skill development. On the other hand, hard skills are associated with a person's technical skill set, as the meaning of the expression makes clear. 

The most significant distinction between hard and soft talents is that hard skills can be certified, but soft skills are more critical in interpersonal interactions. Therefore, hard skills are developed by pursuing professional degrees and are used, for example, in job interviews and resumes. 

Technical skills examples include programming languages, data analysis, graphic design software, operating machinery, industry-specific software, hardware troubleshooting, web development languages, specialized equipment operation, and scientific instrument use.

Conversely, soft skills foster a wider variety of real-world applications and are closely associated with positive interpersonal skills interactions.

Why Kids Should Develop Soft Skills in Early Childhood

Early development of soft skills is beneficial for children as it helps them handle problems and interact with people efficiently. Preschoolers must learn how to share, cope with intense emotions, and communicate to form healthy connections and collaborate well with others. Further honing these abilities as children age can help them manage stress and hardship, maintain composure under duress, and recover from setbacks. Developing these soft skills further as older kids enter their teens can help them become more self-assured, assertive, and capable of setting limits.

Top Soft Skills Examples to Teach Your Kids

Life skills examples include time management, organization, problem-solving, decision-making, communication, self-awareness, empathy, resilience, adaptability, critical thinking, financial literacy, stress management, teamwork, goal-setting, and conflict resolution. When your child is content to spend their spare time on technology and hide in their bedroom, it might be challenging to help them develop their soft skills. Still, there are several actions you may take that have an impact. What to tell them is as follows.

Adaptability Soft Skill

Teach your children that it's okay to change. Raise kids to be resilient people who don't disintegrate despite even the most minor changes. Give them a great deal of flexibility. Tell them that, despite everything, life continues. Someone who can adjust well enough can triumph over even the most trying circumstances.

Being adaptable and having a flexible way of thinking are soft solid skills. Additionally, your youngsters will become more adaptive as they gain more experience. Introduce your kids to new experiences, read new books, eat new foods, and interact with strangers.

Communication Soft Skills

Communication skills examples include active listening, verbal and non-verbal communication, written communication, public speaking, interpersonal communication, negotiation, empathy, assertiveness, and giving feedback.

No obstacle can hinder your children's path to more significant achievements if they can express their thoughts and emotions clearly and concisely. Developing strong interpersonal skills, including practical communication skills, is crucial to their success. Encourage them to articulate their ideas kindly and confidently, teaching them to interact with others of all ages and sizes. By nurturing these interpersonal skills at home, in school, and on the playground, you empower your children to navigate various social situations easily and confidently.

Interpersonal skills meaning that individuals possess the capacity to communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and navigate social interactions with empathy and understanding, fostering positive relationships and successful teamwork.

Creativity Soft Skill

Indeed, the ingenuity of Steve Jobs exemplifies how a brilliant mind can captivate and impress others with innovative thinking. This demonstrates how creativity can be a valuable asset in any profession. Children are inherently creative, and it's important not to stifle their imagination with excessive realism. Instead, guide them in harnessing and expressing their creative potential as they grow.

Encouraging kids to think outside the box and develop original ideas is vital to nurturing creative thinking. Sometimes, taking risks can lead to the most innovative solutions. By fostering these creative skills alongside interpersonal skills such as collaboration and communication skills, you empower children to think creatively and effectively share and implement their ideas with others.

Critical Thinking Soft Skill

Allow them to question "why" as much as they'd like. Your kids need to be able to think critically. A person capable of critical thought is not afraid to express their opinions. Your kids must have their own unique perspectives. Their ability to think critically will keep them from adopting a herd mentality.

Critical thinking involves having the ability to reason analytically and rationally. Give your children the chance to solve puzzles to develop their critical thinking abilities. You may, for instance, offer them a riddle to solve or request that they come up with a fix for an issue.

Empathy Soft Skill

Emotional intelligence, the capacity to understand and manage both one's own and others' emotions, is a valuable soft skill to cultivate. Help your children develop this soft skill by modeling empathy—listen to them attentively, acknowledge their feelings, and respond with kindness. By fostering emotional intelligence alongside interpersonal skills, you equip your children with the tools to navigate relationships and communicate effectively in various social settings.

Leadership Soft Skill

Leadership skills examples include effective communication, decision-making, problem-solving, delegation, motivation, strategic planning, conflict resolution, accountability, empathy, and inspiring and empowering others.

Your child's profession can achieve remarkable success if they possess leadership qualities. A competent leader maintains team cohesion and motivation. They can guide the group toward success by making critical judgments in trying circumstances. It is simple to teach leadership at home. Youngsters copy their older siblings and parents. They pick up soft skills from how you divide chores, handle daily tasks, and so on.

Problem-Solving Soft Skill

Problem-solving requires the skill to identify issues and offer practical, logical solutions. Help children develop this skill by allowing them to explore potential solutions instead of always providing the answers. Discuss age-appropriate problems with your children engagingly, ensuring they feel included. Encourage them to share their thoughts and solutions actively. Successful individuals stand out because they excel at addressing challenges. By fostering problem-solving skills alongside interpersonal skills, such as active listening and collaboration, you empower children to tackle problems effectively while working harmoniously with others.

Resilience Soft Skill

Recovering from obstacles and failures is essential for navigating life's challenges. Help your child develop a growth mindset, seeing setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning. By nurturing this mindset alongside interpersonal skills such as resilience and adaptability, you empower your child to overcome adversity and thrive in the face of change, stress, and hardship.

Self-confidence Soft Skill

Give children a sense of independence. Have faith in them to help them develop into self-assured people. When your kids have enough self-assurance, they will persevere through the most trying circumstances. No bullying or adverse circumstances can break them if they are self-assured enough.

Teamwork Soft Skill

Interpersonal skills examples include communication, teamwork, empathy, active listening, conflict resolution, adaptability, leadership, collaboration, networking, and emotional intelligence.

Teamwork involves having the ability to collaborate well with others to achieve a common objective. Motivate them to see your family as a unit and consider how you can support and encourage one another with tasks like housework.

One of life's greatest blessings is collaborating in groups without losing patience. Teach your youngster the importance of collaboration, even if they are a lone wolf. Make them understand the benefits of being a team player in life. Both while kids are playing and doing duties around the house, teamwork may be taught. Assign their siblings or friends the responsibilities and request that they work together.

Time-Management Soft Skill

Every day is becoming more and more chaotic in life. Your kids are increasingly becoming preoccupied with schoolwork, tutoring sessions, and extracurricular activities. Instill in your children the importance of being on time. Inform them of the drawbacks of putting things off. Give them instances of notable individuals who have attained greatness by making the most of every minute as well.

Organizational Soft Skill

Kids who are organized in their tasks and approaches to circumstances are better equipped to manage stress and time effectively. Therefore, teaching your children organizational soft skills, such as setting goals and prioritizing tasks, is essential. By instilling these skills alongside interpersonal skills, like collaboration and communication skills, you help your children not only manage their own responsibilities but also work effectively with others in various situations.

Work Ethics Soft Skill

Your kids need to grasp the difference between right and wrong. Instill strong work ethics in them early on. Communicate your expectations to them and make them aware of their responsibilities. Demonstrating a strong work ethic in the classroom earns students a reputation for being responsible individuals and positively influences their character certification. By emphasizing these values alongside interpersonal skills such as cooperation and integrity, you help children develop into individuals who excel academically and contribute positively to their social and professional environments.

Tips to Help Your Children Develop These Soft Skills

Some strategies may be used to inspire and support children's learning as you assist them in developing their soft skills. This is what you should attempt:

  • Reinforcement of one's worth. Encourage your children to share about their triumphs and qualities to help them grow in self-assurance. 

  • Show the actions you wish to see by example. Youngsters pick up soft social skills from watching adults, so model positive behavior for your children.

  • Give practice chances. Soft skills may be taught to children in a variety of ways. You may, for instance, play cooperative activities with your children, assist them with problem-solving, or provide them the opportunity to socialize with other children.

  • Show tolerance and encouragement. Children acquire soft skills through practice and time. Thus, use patience and encouragement while they develop.

  • Urge your kids to take chances. Taking chances can aid in your child's development. 

  • Assist your child in growing from their errors and viewing them as a chance to improve.

  • Have fun with it. Acquiring soft skills does not need to be monotonous. There are many ways to entertain kids with it. You may, for instance, employ applications or games that teach kids soft skills.

  • Maintain consistency. Being consistent is essential for helping kids develop soft skills. This entails frequently conversing with them about soft skills and providing practice chances.

How can Newtonshow Help To Develop Different Types of Soft Skills?

Personal strengths examples include communication skills, adaptability, creativity, problem-solving ability, leadership, teamwork, resilience, empathy, organization, time management, critical thinking, decisiveness, positivity, emotional intelligence, and self-motivation.

Singapore's well-known scientific camp, Newtonshow, aims to support children's learning and development in enjoyable ways. We teach children valuable soft life skills in addition to science through engaging experiments and activities.

Kids at Newtonshow get to learn as they play. They engage in enjoyable science-related activities and experiments. In addition, students acquire social soft skills and teamwork while having a good time.

Kids learn at camp to never give up, even in adversity. They do experiments that might be challenging, but they gain perseverance and persistence through soft skills. As a result, our campers feel more confident and prepared to take on obstacles in the future.

Children are also taught how to lead and collaborate in groups by Newtonshow camps. Together, they work on projects and gain communication skills and listening soft skills. These are crucial abilities that support their success in both life and education.

All in all, Newtonshow is a fantastic learning and entertainment space for children. They participate in fascinating scientific projects and acquire valuable life lessons like persistence and collaboration. Children can develop there and evolve into more self-assured, capable adults.

How Newtonshow Programs Help to Improve Soft Skills For Kids?

Newtonshow offers exciting science programs that teach kids about science and help them develop critical soft skills.

In the "Space Adventure" camp, kids explore the mysteries of space while learning about science. This program engages their curiosity and encourages them to ask questions, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By participating in space-themed activities, kids learn teamwork and communication as they work together to solve challenges.

In The Most Hands-on Science camp, kids dive into chemistry with fun experiments that make learning interactive and engaging. Through hands-on activities, kids learn to follow instructions, observe results, and draw conclusions, enhancing their attention to detail and soft analytical thinking skills. The collaborative nature of the experiments promotes teamwork and cooperation among participants.

The Harry Potter camp introduces kids to the magical world of Harry Potter while incorporating elements of science and creativity. Kids unleash their imagination and creativity by participating in activities like wand-making workshops and potion-making. They also learn about scientific concepts such as alchemy and astronomy in a fun and interactive way, fostering a love for learning and exploration.

Through these science programs, Newtonshow helps kids develop soft skills such as curiosity, critical thinking, communication skills, teamwork, and creativity. By engaging in hands-on activities and collaborative projects, kids learn about science and build essential soft skills that will benefit them in school and life.

With over 11 years of experience and a track record of providing educational and enjoyable experiences, Newtonshow is committed to making kids' holidays fun and enriching. With various programs and a team of experienced instructors, parents can trust Newtonshow to provide an unforgettable learning experience for their children.

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