The top private schools in Miami, FL know what it takes to raise a successful child. Do you? Psychologists and researchers are able to pinpoint and predict the factors that markedly increase your child’s chances of success. Here are some of the top predictors of success, according to researchers, scientists, and local private schools.
Social Skills Are an Absolute Must
The top private schools in Miami know that social skills are a top predictor of success. As such, these schools and programs work to bolster friendships and meaningful relationships. The vast majority of private schools–87%–have low enrollment rates, with total students numbering 300 or less. The low student-to-teacher ratio enables adults to work on strong one-on-one relationships with their students. Fewer students overall also means that those who enroll in group activities or team sports together will get to know each other well and often develop lasting friendships. A 20-year study by Duke University and Pennsylvania State University showed that children and young adults with healthy social skills were more successful than their peers with limited social development.
Success Starts with High Expectations
In recent years, high expectations have come under fire. The top private schools in Miami and across the country know that this criticism is unfounded. In fact, having higher expectations for your children and students increases their likelihood of success. Business Insider describes the phenomena using The Pygmalion effect or the notion that “what one person expects of another can come to serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy.” Put into practice, parents expected a full 96% of children who scored well on standardized tests to go to college. Among kids who did not score well, only 57% of their parents expected them to move onto higher education.
Math Is a Focus Early On
Another advantage of private schools is that they know the importance of learning math from an early age and design fun activities and classes to teach these skills. According to a study in School Readiness and Later Achievement, those with strong math skills at a young age fared markedly better later in life. The top private schools in Miami know to encourage a positive attitude toward math, making it fun and accessible whenever possible. Counting, building, recognizing shapes, and learning about patterns are just some of the methods private schools use to teach preschool and elementary school children math at a young age.
Schools Of Successful Children Nurture a Growth Mindset
Among young children, the fear of speaking up and the fear of failure can play a big role in academic performance. Children who fear failure are less likely to participate, less likely to absorb and retain concepts, and less likely to be successful later in life. Carol Dweck, a psychologist at Stanford University, emphasizes the importance of cultivating a growth mindset. With the right approach, children can apply the growth mindset to view “failure not as evidence of un-intelligence but as a heartening springboard for growth and for stretching our existing abilities,” Business Insider writes. The top private schools in Miami and in the state of Florida encourage children to share and explore ideas, speak up, and learn from mistakes, not obsess about them.
Nutrition, Exercise, And Physical Health Are Top Priorities
Finally, a quality private school knows that physical well-being, emotional well-being, and intellectual well-being are all closely linked. Nutrition can even have a great impact on cognitive development. That means parents want to enroll their children in schools that put a considerable focus on healthy eating habits and nutrition. Greens promote overall neurological health. Seeds and nuts containing protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals help boost children’s nervous systems and overall moods, creating the ideal conditions for success and learning.
Parents and educators alike cannot ignore a simple fact: early childhood education and the principles and values taught during these years can have a tremendous impact on life-long success. Give your child a leg up in the world. Ask private schools in Miami how they plan to set your child up for success now and later in life.
