A term commonly used in discussions on child development is holistic growth. Leading schools claim that they focus on the holistic development of children. Child psychologists advise parents to focus on the holistic development of their kid. So, let us find out what is meant by holistic development and why is it important.

Meaning of holistic development

Imagine building your dream home.

You want a beautiful study, and you pay attention to every little detail.

From the placement of the work desk to the aesthetics of the windows – you take care of every specification. However, you let the architects design the rest of the house.

What will happen when you start living in that house?

You will find yourself spending most of your time in the study. That’s because you won’t get the homely feel from the other rooms, and they won’t be equally useful.

As all your focus was on furnishing just one room, it will be disconnected from the other areas. So, your house won’t have the harmony you wanted.

This is what happens when parents or schools give importance only to the academic performance of a child.

While exceling in academics is crucial, is it the only thing needed to have a fulfilling life?

Can a person with excellent grades become the CEO of a company if they lack problem-solving skills and leadership qualities? Can an individual who hasn’t learned to manage their emotions be happy simply because they can write, read, and speak fluently? Can an individual with great mathematical skills but no empathy sustain a long-lasting relationship with their spouse?

The answer to all these questions is no. This is where holistic development comes into the picture. So, what is meant by holistic development? In simple words, it is the physical, mental, emotional, social, intellectual, and moral development of a child.

Why should schools prioritize holistic development?

Children acquire some skills naturally, but they don’t know what’s best for them. Think about sending a toddler on a playdate and leaving them on their own. Will they be able to invent creative games that will stimulate their mind?

So, the parent or caregiver usually plans fun activities that will engage the child and teach something new. While doing so, holistic development should be the aim. Here’s why:

The learning goals differ based on the grade level of a child. Teachers and parents expect preschoolers to quickly learn the alphabets and numbers. If their focus is solely on improving the child’s academic skills, what about emotional and social skills? Research states that at that age, developing social skills is equally essential.

A holistic approach pays attention to not just social skills but every aspect of a person’s development. The overall well-being of the student is the goal.

Can there ever be learning without well-being? Will you be in the mood to perform experiments in the lab if you have a headache? Can you write an exam if you have a high fever? It’s only when you feel happy and healthy that you have a willingness to learn. Hence, for learning to be effective, holistic development should be adopted.

Four main areas of holistic development

Now that we have understood what is holistic education, let us know about its process. Holistic growth encompasses the following processes:

1. Physical development

Physical development encompasses the development of two types of motor skills: fine motor skills and gross motor skills.

Gross motor skills mean using large body parts (legs and arms). So, exercises for the development of gross motor skills are balancing, dancing, and running.

Fine motor skills refer to the movement of small muscles like feet, toes, and fingers. A kid whose fine motor skill is developed will have good eye-hand coordination without which one cannot draw and write.

As children grow fast, for the desired physical development, parents and teachers can encourage different kinds of activities. Playing football, basketball, dancing, and swimming are amazing exercises.

2. Socio-emotional growth

Socio-emotional development is a chief aspect of a person’s holistic development. It is characterized by a kid’s emotional well-being, independence, interaction abilities, and identity.

So, socio-emotional development commences the moment a baby is born. Their connection with their primary caregiver is the foundation for every relationship they build later in life.

You must be wondering why kids of the same age have diverse socio-emotional capabilities. That’s because an individual’s temperament determines how they respond to their surroundings and manage their emotions. So, every child has a unique personality and distinct behavioral patterns that we adults can differentiate.

How to create an environment for remarkable socio-emotional growth? Always talk in a comforting and calm voice that doesn’t threaten the child. Give responsibilities to let the child know that you trust them. Whenever you witness appropriate behavior, praise them. Lastly, help them process challenging emotions like envy and wrath.

3. Linguistic development

The process of acquiring the sense to understand a language and communicate verbally is termed as linguistic development. Depending on the age of a child, linguistic development has multiple stages like babbling, cooing, telegraphic speech, etc.

The main factors that impact the language learning speed of a child are motivation, physical development, and exposure. If a kid’s oral language proficiency does not develop on time, they struggle to read and write.

To assist a toddler in communicating orally, we can read stories to them, chat with them, and regularly enrich their vocabulary. Using pictograms and pictures, verbalizing actions, teaching songs, and giving positive feedback are some effective ways of promoting linguistic growth.

4. Cognitive development

Cognitive development stands for the development of an individual’s mental and intellectual abilities. It is associated with decision-making, usage of language, perception, and memory. Undeniably, holistic development is impossible without cognitive development.

We can apply various methods to playfully promote mental development. Providing a supportive, versatile, and exciting learning environment is great for cognitive development.

Studies have proved that open-ended questions allow children to think independently. Additionally, card games, memory games, and puzzles stimulate young minds. For enhancing the mathematical skills of a child, we can effectuate STEAM learning.

Final thoughts

So, have you found your answer to the question: What is meant by holistic development? An educational approach incorporating holistic development brings together every aspect of growth.

It does more than improving a child’s cognitive, emotional, and linguistic abilities. It also develops transversal skills such as work habits, knowledgeable insights, and personality traits.

For instance, compassion and empathy are transversal skills. Teamwork, self-expression, and multi-literacy are some other remarkable transversal skills. Hence, the amazing outcomes of holistic development are completing complex projects, designing innovative solutions, and connecting unrelated subjects.