How do Boarding Schools Shape Social Skills and Emotional Intelligence?

Social skills and emotional intelligence are valuable skills every student requires throughout their life. Boarding schools help foster essential social skills that help students in their personal and professional lives and allow them to build their personalities. Through various activities in school, students are taught life skills, and regular practice allows them to inculcate those skills. Residential schools in India also promote the efficiency of social skills and enable students to transform into independent individuals. Let us learn more about the role of boarding schools in shaping social skills and emotional intelligence. 

Do boarding schools help in shaping the future of an individual?

Boarding schools, also known as residential schools, are educational institutions for students that allow students to reside within the campus premises and continue their education. Private boarding schools are primary hubs that help shape an individual’s future as they aim at the holistic development of every child. Boarding schools foster social skills and emotional intelligence to promote overall growth in students. Let us learn more about the advantages of boarding schools in shaping a student’s future.

1. Academic growth– Boarding schools in India have a very rigorous academic curriculum and aim to impart high-quality education. They offer a suitable school infrastructure that promotes learning by providing a sound and mentally stimulating environment. The presence of skilled and experienced teachers is central to the academic excellence of students, which leads to educational growth. It helps prepare students for higher studies and their careers in the country and abroad.

2. Physical development– Students are likely to get bored from studying all day and need recreational activities. Extracurricular activities in boarding schools, such as dramatics, sports, swimming, chess, etc, allow students to take a break from studies and utilise their time productively. This way, students can work on their talents, which may also be a career opportunity shortly.

3. Promotes cultural diversity– Residential schools are known to attract students from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds who come together to study. This allows students to interact with peers from around the world and builds cultural diversity in Indian boarding schools. Students learn to imbibe tolerance, mutual respect, and pride for each other’s culture, which makes them more adaptable to multicultural perspectives. This way, students also prepare to adjust themselves to different working environments for their careers.

4. Social growth– Students in boarding schools spend significant time with their peers, teachers and staff and thus learn social interaction and social skills. They learn the importance of verbal and non-verbal communication, leadership, teamwork, conflict resolution, empathy, and respect. These social skills also act as a part of personality and character development.

Let us learn more about the importance of social skills in students.

What are social skills for students?

Social skills are essential life skills that students require to interact, survive and present themselves in the world. They are vital for students as they embark upon their journeys to navigate academic environments, build relationships, and prepare for future success in various aspects of their lives. Social skills and emotional intelligence are essential for students as they navigate academic environments, build relationships, and prepare for future success in various aspects of life. Here is a list of social skills that are essential for every student.

1. Communication skills– Teachers in residential schools invest great effort in teaching students about verbal and non-verbal communication. Every child must know how to interact both professionally and personally. Students learn to express their thoughts and ideas clearly and articulately using communication skills. It boosts active listening and instils respect for multiple perspectives.

2. Teamwork– Students in boarding schools are often divided into groups for studies or other activities. This helps in fostering teamwork, leadership skills, and active learning from each other. Students also learn to value and incorporate diverse opinions and ideas.

3. Empathy– One of the most essential social skills is empathy. Students must understand and consider their peers and other people’s feelings and perspectives. Showing compassion and support helps build long-lasting bonds.

4. Conflict resolution– Students living in boarding schools come across many practical instances where they face problems and learn to resolve disagreements and conflicts constructively. It helps overcome challenges and stay calm even during anxious situations instead of getting frustrated or anxious.

5. Time management– Student life is all about managing time and organising their daily routine systematically. If students do not learn time management, they may be under constant pressure and anxiety during regular school days and exams.

6. Resilience– Failures are a part of student life, and students must learn to bounce back from setbacks or failures, or it can lead to adverse effects on their minds. Building resilience helps in handling stress and building a positive attitude.

7. Adaptability– Students must learn to be flexible and open to change. As classes progress, the work pressure increases and the social environment may never be the same. Students must learn to adjust to new situations and environments and garner that change with a positive mindset.

Benefits of emotional intelligence in students

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability of an individual to understand, process, and manage one’s emotions so that they do not overpower. Apart from understanding one’s own emotions, it also refers to understanding the emotions of others. The more skilled a student is at perceiving, expressing and regulating emotions, the more emotional intelligence a student is said to have. The advantages of emotional intelligence in students are-

1. Builds self-awareness– Students with high EQ (emotional quotient) know how to analyse, perceive, express, and regulate and are, therefore, more likely to be self-aware since they have analysed themselves thoroughly. They understand their strengths and weaknesses, know how to make informed decisions and build their personalities.

2. Enhances self-regulation– Emotional intelligence allows students to manage and regulate their emotions. It allows them to stay focused, control their impulses, and handle stress and pressure more healthily instead of bursting out in anger and violence.

3. Promotes mental health– Students with higher emotional intelligence are associated with better mental health outcomes. They are most likely to understand and manage their emotions. This helps in minimising the chances of anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, thus promoting a healthy mind, body, and soul.

4. Leadership skills– A true leader has control over emotions and knows how to effectively handle all situations and teammates without letting any thoughts, biases, or emotions get the best of them. Students with strong emotional intelligence often exhibit leadership qualities such as empathy and communication skills. They can inspire and motivate others.

How do boarding schools promote social skills and emotional intelligence?

Indian boarding schools provide an encouraging learning environment that can contribute significantly to students’ social skills and emotional intelligence development. Besides theoretical knowledge, boarding schools promote practical learning where students implement the studied concept using various activities. 

1. Living in a residential school opens up students to a diverse background. The communal setting of a boarding school encourages constant interaction with peers and fosters the development of interpersonal skills. Students learn to live together and build their bonds.

2. Participation in extracurricular activities and group exercises boosts leadership skills, teamwork, cooperation, problem-solving, and social bonds. Teachers in boarding schools encourage students to actively associate themselves in group projects and activities to allow them to work on their social skills.

3. Ethics in education is a part of the curriculum in boarding schools, where students are taught about ethics, values and traditions. It allows them to polish their critical thinking skills and make a well-informed and ethical decision. Inculcating ethics enables students to imbibe social skills such as loyalty, empathy, respecting diversity, and being objective. It also helps in nurturing emotional intelligence.

4. Yoga in education at boarding schools awakens students and builds consciousness of body, mind, and soul. It instilled a sense of calm and peacefulness, which promotes emotional intelligence and keeps the body healthy.

5. Staying by themselves in dormitories allows students to take control of their lives and become more independent. It makes them more responsible and fosters time management, sound decision-making, and problem-solving skills. These skills not only help in future careers but also in the personal growth of individuals. It also allows students to decipher and cope with their emotions independently.

6. Social service programs aided by boarding schools encourage students to learn social skills such as generosity, equality, empathy, and a sense of responsibility towards uplifting people from all walks of life.

7. Struggling with exam stress and academic pressure, students learn to build resilience by adapting to the unfamiliar environment and having a positive mindset. By following the tips to reduce exam stress, students can utilise their time and carry out exam preparations smoothly.

These are a few ways boarding schools promote social skills and emotional intelligence in students and boost their holistic development.

SKV is a female boarding school in Gwalior that promotes progressive education fused with Indian traditions and culture. We are affiliated with the CBSE board and offer high-quality learning to girls from class VI onwards.