Varsha Prasad
Editor, TeacherTribe.world
Covid has left a mark on many things around us – both positive and negative. We are more adept now at technology and tech-related stuff. We have learnt to manage working, learning and teaching from home. We have also learnt to incorporate hybrid teaching & learning tools, making the process easier and friendlier to all kinds of learners. All thanks to covid!
Covid, at the same time, has also made children, reclusive, introverted and highly tech-dependant. There are a lot of teachers and educators who have noticed declining soft skills among Gen Z. Soft skills, also known as ‘people skills’ or ‘core skills’, is the ability in people to work and interact with others. It includes collaboration, critical thinking, communication with others, emotional intelligence, work ethics and teamwork to name a few.
Are soft skills dying?
I recently interacted with a few students and teachers during an interschool competition. There was this boy of class 8, who was winning in all individual competitions including debate, quiz, etc. He was not a part of any competitions that included team participation – including team quizzing and team debates. When we asked him the reason behind this, his answer was simple – “I don’t work well in teams, ma’am. I enjoy taking part individually.” The teacher who was a part of this conversation said that she had noticed many children like him, who preferred to take part in individual events than in group activities. She also pointed out that her friends and colleagues had noticed similar trends in children, especially after Covid.
Is this an indication of soft skills shrinking in children? If so, why is it happening?
The before and after
During Covid, children were forced to stay homebound, avoid interaction with others physically, or go out and play. They were glued to the TV or phones at home and even took classes online. This became a relaxed setting where everything was at the comfort of the home. While this was a necessity at that point in time, it became a habit for most children, where coming out of the comfort zone became very difficult. This led to lesser interactions with peers and more addiction to the gadgets. Despite moving on from the covid-led isolation era, there are a lot of children and adults who are still having trouble moving back to an environment which involves communication and working with others.
The reclusion has set in, making it difficult for them to hone their other soft skills.
Significance of soft skills
We live in a world where interdependence and communication with others are extremely important to thrive. Skills like problem-solving, thinking on the feet, adaptability and creativity are essential to grow both mentally and professionally. Children who lack these skills might find it very difficult to find a job and work with others in the future. But, with the right amount of guidance and exposure, these skills can be developed and enhanced.
Role of teachers
Speaking of teachers’ role in helping children improve, reminds me of a folk tale of a prince and his master. A king one day appoints a learned sage to train and prepare his son, the young prince, to take over the throne. The sage interacts with the prince and learns that the prince already well-versed of the scriptures, the rule book of the kingdom, the dos and don’ts, etc.
With the permission of the king, the learned sage takes the prince to a secluded castle and locks him up there. Every night, after the prince falls asleep, the sage sneaks into the castle and starts stealing things. The prince, upon noticing the pattern, starts hiding the things in the castle to avoid the theft. Next, the sage enters the castle every night and starts hitting the prince with a stick. The prince again, observes the pattern and starts defending himself when the sage comes over. This way, the prince learns self-defence, being aware of his surroundings and keeping himself and the things around him safe. Once out of the castle, the prince asks the sage the reason behind this lesson. The sage tells the prince that he already knew most of the things, but needed to skills to be aware of oneself and things around him. The prince later goes on to become a responsible king.
This story gives us the message that children might know most of the tings or might have most qualities in them already. But, it is the teachers’ responsibility to help them finetune it. In our topic of discussion, most children might already have the required soft skills in them, but they might have lost touch with it due to the situation they have been through. It is the teacher, in the classroom environment, who can help guide them.
Teachers, to help children with their soft skills, can include a lot of activities and engagement sessions in class. These sessions can involve group discussions, interaction with other, problem-solving activities and team-work. These will help them talk to and interact better with others, and will help them understand others’ point of view, developing emotional intelligence.
Soft skills, at the end of the day, are equally important as hard skills to succeed in life. Making sure children improve upon it or develop it at an early age is crucial. Here, teachers play an important role as mentors and guides, to make sure children progress in the right direction.
What do you think about the diminishing soft skills in children? Share your thoughts with me at varsha@greycaps.com.