Emotional skills education varies significantly across municipalities in Finland since 2014

Emotional skills education varies significantly across municipalities in Finland, despite being part of the national curriculum since 2014. Kouvola stands out for its innovative approach, employing wellness tutors and customized emotional skills classes. The focus is on recognizing, regulating, and interacting with emotions, with long-term benefits anticipated.

According to educational expert Dr. Erja Sandberg, emotional skills education is often lacking in upper secondary schools, where students are perceived as too mature to require such lessons. Children practice these skills during traditional subjects like environmental science and mother tongue classes, with some schools offering specialized emotional skills sessions.

In Kouvola, eight wellness tutors, many of whom are former psychiatric nurses, conduct lessons on well-being, emotional skills, self-esteem, motivation, and life management. One of the tutors, Jonna Salminen, has created a calming work environment featuring elements from nature, which has positively impacted children’s engagement in lessons.

At Mansikkamäki School in Kouvola, a tailored curriculum focusing on emotional skills has been implemented for third and fourth graders. The students’ active participation and reactions in class indicate the program’s effectiveness.

Officials, such as education advisor Marjaana Manninen from the Finnish National Agency for Education, believe the benefits of learning emotional skills, though gradual, will become evident as today’s youth enter the workforce. They are expected to possess stronger emotional intelligence and social interaction skills than current adults.

Experts encourage parents to enhance their emotional skills, emphasizing the importance of remaining calm when children are upset and actively engaging by listening to their feelings.