How Does Scandinavian Education Nurture Young Learners?

Of the many things the Scandinavian countries are world-renowned for, their education systems and child-centric curricula truly stand out! The Scandinavian way of learning is ranked highly among the global education indices and is recognized for its hands-on, innovative, and impactful educational approaches. The curriculum is not just about achieving academic excellence, but it is also known to raise confident, kind-hearted, and empathetic global citizens of tomorrow.

Scandinavian education has gained a lot of popularity and credibility around the world, a global recognition that has gone far beyond the borders of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden (the Scandinavian countries). With its emphasis on child-led learning, inclusivity, and play-based learning, it is influencing other early childhood development (ECD) centers, schools, and educators across continents, the same way the MENA region has embraced parts of this progressive pedagogy and implemented them in its holistic education models.

Now, let’s understand how Scandinavian education nurtures young learners and equips them with real-world skills.

What Sets Scandinavian Education Apart?

1. Learning Through Play: Play and learning goes hand-in-hand. As the popular saying goes, playing is not a break from learning, it is learning itself! Play is a powerful tool that is useful in building curiosity, improving emotional intelligence, developing motor skills, and enhancing social skills. This sets a foundation for deeper understanding of complex concepts. Here, educators give young children the time and space to discover “how they learn”. This encourages them to develop a love for learning instead of learning with pressure. It is said to help improve their critical thinking and problem-solving skills too.

2. Holistic Development: The Scandinavian approach focuses on the overall growth of young learners, that is, emotionally, intellectually, socially, as well as physically. This is vital for children to grow into individuals who are ready to face any challenges that life throws at them with compassion and confidence. There are numerous activities designed in this celebrated curriculum that are age-appropriate and child-led, ensuring that each area of child’s growth is respected and nurtured equally.

3. Emphasis on Well-being: Small-group learning, and interactive and stimulating spaces where children feel safe, heard, and valued are given top priority. Emotional and mental well-being are considered significant and are at the heart of Scadinavian education. There’s also strong emphasis on empathy and building positive relationships to support healthy development of the whole child. Regular routines, gentle guidance, and open communication help children feel heard and seen.

4. Highly Skilled Educators: Warm-hearted and Engaged Educators vital in a child’s learning journey. They play a significant role in nurturing a child and it goes beyond educating and imparting knowledge. Educators who impart the Scandinavian way of learning observe children closely, adapt activities to meet every child’s individual needs, and co-create learning moments rather than control them. This deep professional trust and competence helps build strong child-teacher bonds and supports personalized growth. They also help children form meaningful and lifelong connections.

5. Nature-based Learning: Nature is deeply rooted in the Scandinavian curriculum and children in such schools are encouraged to spend plenty of time outdoors and interact with Mother Mature like playing in parks, forests, and covered outdoor spaces irrespective of the weather. This builds resilience, mindfulness and physical health in young learners. Interacting with nature fosters independence, risk-assessment, and motor skills as well.

6. Child-centric Approach: Every child is unique and develops at their own pace. Instead of pushing a one-size-fits-all approach, Scandinavian education focusses on the child’s interests, abilities, and emotional needs in order to shape their learning experiences. This is achieved by encouraging them to ask questions, make decisions, and explore topics that make them curious. This approach creates a sense of ownership while learning, which in turn builds confidence and intrinsic motivation from a very young age.

7. Stress-free and Inclusive Environment: Rather than focusing on competition, Scandinavian classrooms create a sense of calmness and create a pressure-free environment where every child feels safe and respected. In this educational model, small-group learning is given priority, child-to-teacher ratio is low, and there’s a strong emphasis on social inclusion and emotional safety. This creates a positive impact on everyone, especially on young children of determination, as they are celebrated and supported in the same shared mainstream school setting.

Dibber – No.1 in Scandinavian Education Group, Now in UAE

Founded in Norway in 2003, we are a leading global education provider and the No.1 Scandinavian education group that offers the finest research-based pedagogy and services. Over the past 20+ years, Dibber has established a network of 600+ nurseries and schools across 9 countries in Scandinavia, the Baltics, Central Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In the UAE, their presence spans over key locations like Al Barsha South, Damac Hills Mudon, The Sustainable City, Jumeirah Golf Estates, and Khalifa City A.

They ensure that more than 45,000 children are nurtured daily by getting equal opportunity to foster a deep love for learning, a sense of social responsibility, and to learn the skills to thrive in an ever-evolving world.

Dibber prioritizes character development and upholding each child’s intrinsic values. Every child is made to understand that they are unique, and individual differences are to be celebrated. This plays a significant role in boosting self-confidence and building a child’s sense of identity. This significantly contributes toward nurturing empathetic global citizens.

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