How to identify and develop soft skills in children?

In education, recruitment, and management in general, a term with Anglo-Saxon overtones has been flourishing for several years: soft skills! Elevated to the status of must-have "in" skills, soft skills (or behavioral skills) are not the preserve of a select few. On the contrary, we can all develop them to become more agile (and navigate each change of situation more smoothly). So, as much as possible, let's give our children all the tools they need to cultivate them and showcase them at the right time.

What are soft skills?

THE soft skills refer to the set of behavioral skills, in other words THE qualities that make up our “soft skills”Creativity, open-mindedness, self-confidence and trust in others, communication skills… These clearly incorporate the emotional and relational dimensions of each individual. Recognizing, understanding, and managing one's emotions are all valuable resources for feeling good in school, work, and social life.

In contrast, we speak of hard skills to designate the set of technical skills that contribute to what is commonly called the “know-how”: to apply a method, to master a tool…”

Soft skills are numerous, and it's common for our inner world to possess several of them. In this regard, English-speaking countries refer to them as... life skills or “life skills”. It is up to each individual to identify them, make space for them and allow them to be expressed with kindness.

Top 5 soft skills

On the web, there's a whole host of soft skills. To help you navigate them, we offer a (non-exhaustive) list of socio-emotional skills which come up most frequently:

• Solving complex problems; ;
• Critical thinking; ;
• Creativity; ;
• Collaboration (team spirit); ;
• Flexibility.

These qualities are particularly sought after in the professional world, and are also perfectly transferable to the school ecosystem.

What are soft skills used for?

In his essay, Your teen's hidden potential, Nathalie Anton provides a more precise definition. She draws in particular on the classification of the American organization CASEL, which has been promoting the development of soft skills in students' educational paths since the mid-1990s. Thus, soft skills are present at different levels:

• Self-knowledge : to be able to identify and name one's emotions, to assess one's strengths and weaknesses, to strengthen self-esteem.
• Self-control : regulating one's emotions, managing one's stress, setting goals and achieving them.
• Relationship skills : knowing how to deflect and resolve conflicts, communicating clearly, fostering a sense of belonging, knowing how to ask for help.
• Fair and informed decision-making : to look after one's own well-being and that of one's neighbor, to make reasoned choices, to anticipate the consequences of one's actions.
• Social consciousness : to develop empathy, appreciate diversity, respect social norms.

How to develop soft skills?

Technological advancements are propelling us toward a world of profound change. The increasing robotization and automation of tasks are rapidly rendering some of our hard skills obsolete. So how can we thrive in this standardization? By leveraging our socio-emotional skills and striving to develop them from a young age. Here are a few suggestions for initiating this process in elementary school:

Implementing a system of "jobs" in the classroom to promote decision-making:

Master of time, responsible for equipment… We give you several examples in our article « Flexible classroom: 5 tips for better managing student atmosphere and concentration« .

Facilitating encounters with the outside world to develop open-mindedness and trust in others:

An artist presenting their work, a parent sharing their profession, a volunteer highlighting the association they are involved with…

Introducing children to yoga, meditation…

These are all recognized practices that allow us to let go and release tension. Knowing how to quickly clear our minds is a key skill for managing stress and emotions, at any point in our personal or professional lives.

Encouraging students to develop their eloquence:

Knowing how to express and defend one's ideas without aggression, but above all with confidence, is a valuable skill for the future! In class, you can introduce a topic and ask each student to express their point of view. For example: “Can you tell me what you are most proud of and why?” The content of the answer is not important. What matters is the thought process each student takes to present their answer and, in retrospect, the personal satisfaction that such an exercise can bring them.

To propose a joint project for the entire school to involve ALL students:

For example, why not organize a litter pick around the school and invite local residents to participate? Planning the route, creating collection groups, designing a poster for the event… these are just some of the various tasks that everyone can take part in. The result: a stronger sense of belonging!

Some students will be predisposed to possess a wide range of soft skills, while others will need to be more resourceful to fully benefit from them. But that doesn't matter! Soft skills are acquired throughout life (not from books): through encounters, exposure to different environments, and travels... Keep your eyes and ears open!

Soft skills: what do school curricula in France say?

While this anglicism initially caused a stir in the professional sphere, it is now fully integrated into schools. Thus, since September 2016, the French National Education curriculum has incorporated social and emotional skills across various subject areas as follows:

• “Languages for thinking and communicating” : exercise of critical thinking, personal expression and listening to others.
• “Methods and tools for learning” : time management, collaboration and cooperation in a group.
• “The formation of the individual and the citizen” : to make the student aware of the impact of their actions and words.
• “Natural systems and technical systems” : to behave responsibly towards the environment and health.
• “Representations of the world and human activity” : understanding the world around us.

A process that begins as early as kindergarten

Preschool is the first step in recognizing and valuing soft skills. It is here that the initial elements of socialization necessary for each child's development and well-being are built. Later, in elementary school, children are better able to cooperate, engage with others, and thus develop their interpersonal skills.  Indeed, in most cases students have only one teacher, a true privileged interlocutor throughout the year with whom a relationship of trust can be established over time and facilitate the acquisition of soft skills.

From theory to practice: what are the obstacles to implementation?

While the development of soft skills is included in the curriculum, there is still a long way to go to make the development of social skills a regular part of classroom practice. From middle school onward, the school schedule intensifies and the number of teachers for each class increases. Certainly, timetables include time for class meetings or civic education. However, these deserve to be re-evaluated to give real weight to the development of soft skills. For example, a North American middle school proposes starting each day with 30 minutes of discussion. Students then gather (in groups of 15) to discuss socio-emotional skills.

Because the adults of tomorrow are being shaped right now, let's hope that teachers, already experienced in developing soft skills, will be able to initiate this movement among a wider audience of education professionals. The result: quality relationships between students, but also between students and adults.

In conclusion: soft skills… key skills for tomorrow

In a constantly evolving world of work, the ability to be agile will prove to be a real asset. Hence the importance of nurturing our children's soft skills from a young age to facilitate their adaptability. At a time when 851 of the jobs of 2030 don't yet exist (according to a 2017 study by Dell and the Institute for the Future), the recognition of soft skills as a matter of public interest is not a sudden development. Let's build on these new advances to give our children a significant advantage: the ability to adapt to tomorrow's changes rather than simply being overwhelmed by them!

Our articles on the same topic

• Discover our article on multiple intelligences and reveal the genius that lies dormant in every child!

To learn more:

• Test the programs of the Softkids app to cultivate your little ones' soft skills
• Brainy Club: What are soft skills?
• The Décliques: Soft skills aren't only learned at school
• Edupronet: The importance of soft skills in education
• Acadomia: Are soft skills a new priority in education?
• DELL & Institute for the Future Study