Modern-day parenting can be hard. We want our children to grow up to be
independent thinkers and also
confident and
considerate members of society who listen to others but form their own opinions and beliefs based on facts and evidence available to them. As I monitored my 8-year-old daughter’s progress at school, I saw some good outcomes in the knowledge Melina was acquiring, but at the same time, her fears of getting things wrong and desires to find easy predictable solutions were growing too. I realised that I need to support Melina’s education with more space for activities that support
creative approaches to problem-solving. For me seeing the Facebook ad for Debate Mate was an exciting moment. I understand the importance of
emotional intelligence in children, with extensive evidence showing that in the future humans need to nurture skills that machines cannot. We need to have emotional intelligence, to be
creative, to be flexible and adaptable and to remain humble too, so we allow for the possibility to be wrong.
These are essential life skills Debate Mate successfully develop in their online programs. In addition, the concept of getting a group of children together for weekly debate sessions facilitated by enthusiastic and educated adults really appealed to me. I knew that such sessions would help to develop important skills in Melina such as
mindful listening and speaking, strategic teamwork, and the ability to think quickly on your feet.
Debate Mate teaches these skills in combination leading to increased confidence and self-esteem. Essential skills for future leaders. I signed up Melina for the Autumn term with Debate Mate and watched her confidence grow. Every week Melina could not wait to join her online group, I would hear her
passionately presenting logical arguments, she also became a supporting member of the team cheering others on or admitted easily when someone else would raise a great point. It was also great to hear from Melina’s teacher that she now better understands the core of the problem or the task in front of her and she moved up in all her subjects without any additional effort with homework. From my own experience of teaching, I know that everything a child engages in with joy will support all other learning areas, but it was great to see that happen so quickly and naturally.
When the last lesson of the Autumn term ended, Melina ran out of the study and said:
“Please, please can I carry on lessons with Debate Mate next term?” Isn’t it what all parents hope for when they sign up their child for extracurricular activities - that what children learn will be useful and shows results but is also inspiring and fun to do?
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🔗 Feeling inspired? Head to our
website to check out our virtual summer camps and Autumn term courses- all now live on our website!
