Best Practices for peer support in Abu Dhabi Schools
Peer support is crucial at all stages of life, as it gives a sense of belongingness and security. Especially when you talk about school-going children, a cordial bond between the classmates and people they meet daily helps a lot! In addition, it helps promote sound mental health, allowing children to focus on their studies and explore their potential rather than feeling stuck and disinterested in school.
The positive impacts of peer support are nurturing atmosphere, excellent grades, and holistic growth. That is why schools in Abu Dhabi conduct special events and put efforts into promoting the idea of peer support. Even the parents do not focus much on the India international school Sharjah fees; their priority is to check if the school focuses on providing children with a cordial and growth-oriented environment.
Best Practices for peer support in Abu Dhabi Schools
Start Early
The earlier you start infusing the skills in children, the more convenient it will be for them to adapt. So, never think you should only begin once your students are out of their preschools. Start early so you have the time to infuse this virtue in your students. You can begin by teaching them to be kind, and as they grow, they will also be ready to help and support others.
Educate Students
The first thing you should do is educate your students about peer groups. They need to know everything about these setups and what is expected from them as they join these groups. Talk to them about how students with disabilities are special and how their simple act of kindness can make a significant difference in their life. Understand that the whole idea of peer groups would only work if the students resonate with it. So, educate them and make them willingly participate in peer group activities.
Align Training Sessions
How to help is the most common question that students might ask. So, for successful peer support, schools in Abu Dhabi can conduct training sessions. Discuss different scenarios with students and tell them how they can help. Schools can also conduct formal training sessions to give all the students a virtual view of the peer support activities.
Anticipate Challenges
Students will surely come to their educators with the issues they will face in peer support. Sometimes the person they want to help has behavioral issues, and many other challenges can occur. So, the school should anticipate all these challenges beforehand and come up with an effective solution that they can provide their students.
Model Ideal Behaviour
Young children always pick up habits and behaviors from their elders. So, when they see their teachers and parents being supportive towards others, they are likely to behave in a similar manner. So, it is significant that the teachers and parents model an ideal behavior and let the child pick the same pattern. It is also crucial to note here that it will take time for children to be actively involved in peer support. So, teachers should give them their share of time and space and shouldn’t force things on them.
With these simple tips, schools can form peer groups and train their students to educate and help each other. In the process, they will learn essential life skills, like empathy, teamwork, compassion, and much more, that will help them throughout their life. At the same time, parents should also support schools in this by encouraging their children to be a part of peer groups and motivating them to be considerate and help others in their time of need. Collaborative efforts can go a long way, so a student who learns the same virtue at school and home will surely be an asset to society.
To read more blogs click here.