LIFE SKILLS EDUCATION IN ALL-ROUND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD

3.06.2018

It is so good to be around with children and contribute to their growing years. My journey as a paediatrician has been with cute little beings and taking care of their health. Health is a comprehensive term and entails overall health. It's not only the health of the body but also important is the emotional and social health. A child needs the love and care of the family. He also needs an education that will help him grow into a balanced human being. Basic skills of life such as problem-solving and managing emotions need to be imparted from early years. Hence there is a need for Life Skills education.

Life Skills education helps in all-round development of the child. It augments various skills in a child which otherwise might not be explored and sometimes remain hidden. This education comprises all three categories of skills: Cognitive, Emotional and Social. It teaches the child to become responsible, compassionate, self-dependent and disciplined thereby preparing the child to face the world in day to day life situations.

It helps in developing excellent motor and cognitive skills at an early age making the child more creative thereby giving liberty to the child to explore his/her talent. It enables the child to take his/her own call in complex critical situations and come out with a solution.

It helps in developing communication and interpersonal skills thereby improving relations with friends and peers and would undoubtedly assist in developing leadership qualities in the future.

Helping others, showing empathy, understanding emotions are the skills acquired through Life skills education, needless to say, which makes your child very compassionate and caring.

Life Skills education helps in increasing the emotional quotient of your child which is essential than intelligence quotient to take on day to day challenges of life and become more prepared in facing various ups and downs in its professional and personal life.

Life Skills education if started early would also help identify any issues of developmental delay or behavioural disorders in a child at an early stage thereby alerting the parents to take appropriate steps for their children.

We parents should initiate life skills education for children as early as possible. It will ensure their holistic development.

DR ABHIJIT SALVE
M.D(Paed), DCH. 
CONSULTANT PEDIATRICIAN AND NEONATOLOGIST 
DIRECTOR : SIDDHANT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
MUMBAI