The world is vastly different than it was 20 years ago. Job and career opportunities have evolved, and technology is taking over tasks that humans used to handle. Social skills and building psychological capital are becoming increasingly important; assets that technology can never achieve.
Concerns about the well-being of young people have been prominent, and rightfully so. Young people increasingly need the ability to adapt and flex, to handle their own emotions, expand their thinking, problem-solve, and seize opportunities. Teaching life skills helps young people grow into self-aware, resilient, and emotionally intelligent young adults.
Life skills refer to skills that promote life management. They are learnable and practicable skills that enhance one's own and others' well-being. Key life skills include self-awareness and interpersonal skills. The National Curriculum's goal is to support personal growth and the competence required for sustainable living.
"Each student is unique and valuable just as they are. Everyone has the right to grow to their full potential as individuals and as members of society. In this, the student needs encouragement and individual support, as well as the experience that they are listened to and respected in the school community and that their learning and well-being are cared for." (National Curriculum, 2014, p. 15)
Teaching life skills and self-awareness can significantly prevent the emergence of mental health problems, marginalization, and, for example, addictions. Would you have benefited from learning at a young age why you have emotions and how to handle them, how the mind works, and, for example, what impact nervous system functioning has on daily relationships?
MARKED brings life skills and self-awareness education within reach of every young person, without overburdening teachers.
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