What predicts a child’s success?
As kids enter the later years of elementary school they experience a critical time of transition. They begin to develop their own identity through peer groups and experiences outside of the family. The pressures of school, fitting in, and friendships become increasingly stressful and often times kids sacrifice what they believe in … leading to poor decisions.
What is Wings for Life?
Wings for Life gives kids the opportunity to develop the skills to understand, manage, and express their emotions; providing them the tools to manage conflict, get along with others, and develop self awareness. Wings for Life includes the following four components:
- Girls On the Run – An interactive life-skills program that educates and prepares girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.
- Studio 2B – A space where girls have the freedom to discuss important topics as well as explore their interests through various activities.
- Mentoring – Positive one-on-one interactions between adults and children. Includes promoting community based mentoring through Big Brother Big Sister of the Sioux Empire and Lutheran Social Services' School Based Mentoring.
- Parent Guides – Age appropriate development information for parents of children in kindergarten through 8th grade. The programs work by providing a structured, emotionally safe environment where kids can learn the skills needed to promote positive emotional development.
What does this mean for the community?
Kids who are able to balance their positive and negative emotions are:
- rated higher by teachers on friendliness and assertiveness, and lower on aggressiveness and sadness
- respond more empathetically to peers’ emotions
- are seen as more likable by their peers
Within the workplace:
- Social and emotional abilities were 4x more important than IQ in determining workplace success.
- Harvard Business Review “academic talent was not a good predictor of on-the-job productivity nor was IQ, rather success was a result of relationships with people, handling crisis, seeing the perspective of others, self-management, etc.”