February half term can be a dreary affair if you’re not basking in the warmth of a holiday somewhere other than the UK. On the upside, I’m in London, so there are lots of things to do with the family. On the downside…it’s crowded…very, very crowded. Fortunately, there’s a gem in the city that offers a refreshing alternative to the busy South Kensington Museum mile: Tate Britain.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Natural History Museum, but shuffling around the Dinosaur Exhibition with half of London (the ones that are not on holiday)… well, can we go somewhere quieter instead? Of course, this was not what the younger members of my family wanted to hear, but this free art gallery turned out to be a great day out.

The journey begins with a train ride, always a hit with 7-year-olds. Arriving at Vauxhall, a quick 10-minute walk over the bridge leads to the Vauxhall riverwalk, offering a perfect pitstop at a cafe with a creative seat-cum-play area. A quick coffee for the grown-up and a re-enactment of ‘The Floor is Lava’ for the kids and it’s time to explore Tate Britain. 

Tate Britain, housed in a beautiful building, showcases 500 years of British art and its stories. The staff are sweet and after seeing my large bag of snacks remind me that eating isn’t allowed in the galleries – but there’s a spacious cafe downstairs with lots of seating where we can. Blissful words for a parent!  

Navigating art galleries with my children usually involves a routine: let them draw for a bit, feed them, and then allow a brief exploration for the designated grown-up. Tate Britain helps with that as the staff hand over Tate-themed sketch books and pencils to the kids and tell us that the play studio, story space and Tate Draw are open.

The play studio is amazing – filled with art materials, kinetic sand, books, toys, and even a massive green screen. Under the guidance of encouraging staff, an hour later my young artists emerged proudly displaying their masterpieces. 

But the highlight for the kids came with Tate Draw, where digital pads allow them to create drawings showcased on a giant digital gallery wall. They were giddy with excitement as they experimented with backgrounds, pixelated art, and free draw options before getting their artworks projected larger than life above their heads. 

Finally, the actual gallery exploration begins, and surprisingly, Tate Britain is welcoming to young art enthusiasts. It has lots of interesting pieces – and my kids turn out to be brutal art critics. Turners are dismissed as ‘gloomy’ while unusual works like Damien Hirst‘s sheep or Barbara Hepworth’s shell-like sculpture get the thumbs up. Some of the artists they’d even heard of like Andrew Gormley and Bridget Riley – thanks to Olaf Falafel and Trixie Pickle. ‘Oooooh look – a penis!’ in response to Gormley’s ‘Three Ways: Mould Hole and Passage‘ and ‘Oh, that’s makes me feel dizzy’ on Riley’s black and white OpArt.

I’m largely amused by the commentary until we hit a Francis Bacon. ‘I do NOT like that!’ one child pronounced loudly pointing to a large painting of 3 very ‘melty’ looking figures (Triptych August 1972). I can’t say I disagreed, but was mortified at spotting a very serious looking chap sitting on a bench in front of said artwork who appeared to have been ruminating on it for quite some time. He didn’t seem to notice – or was very polite. I encourage critical thinking in my kids but maybe I should introduce diplomacy too? 

In total, we spent about four hours at Tate Britain, with a significant portion dedicated to exploring the artworks. My kids would happily go again, and I would highly recommend it to other parents who want to find the fun in typically more grown-up public museums and galleries (and avoid the endless dinosaur queue in the ‘other’ museum). And it’s free! What more could you ask for? 

P.S. As a side note, a quick Google search led to a Guardian review last year from a seasoned art critic that was in humorous contrast to my opinionated kids. He hated everything!! Maybe the gallery just isn’t intended for Guardian critics anymore? Make way for the new generation of art enthusiasts! Hey Guardian (art and design) – can my kids write an article for you? 

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What are 21^st Century skills?

Many organisations and thought leaders have tried to list what they think are the important skills for the 21^st century. But when you look closely, they’re all talking about the same things: thinking critically, being creative, communicating well, solving problems, working with others, and being able to use and manage information. For the purposes of this blog, the Conflicted Parent is going to use the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) list of 16 critical skills that I mentioned in this post.

The WEF splits these skills into 3 areas: foundational literacies, competencies, and character qualities. 

Foundational Literacies

The basic skills and knowledge you need to understand and engage with the world effectively, like reading and writing

• Literacy: The ability to read, write, speak, and listen in a way that allows us to communicate effectively and make sense of the world. 
• Numeracy: The ability to understand and work with numbers. 
• Scientific Literacy: The ability to understand and use scientific concepts and processes to make informed decisions about the world around us. 
• ICT literacy: The ability to use digital technology, communication tools and/or networks to define, access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create and communicate information effectively and ethically. 
• Financial literacy: The ability to understand and effectively use various financial skills including personal financial management, budgeting and investing. 
• Cultural and Civic Literacy: The ability to understand different cultures and perspective and participate effectively in civic life. 

Competencies

How you approach and handle a specific situation to achieve success 

• Critical thinking: The ability to analyse information, evaluate arguments, and make decisions based on evidence. 
• Creativity: The ability to think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions to problems. 
• Communication: The ability to express oneself clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. 
• Collaboration: The ability to work effectively with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures. 

Character Qualities

Personal traits and behaviours that shape how you interact with others and approach situations 

• Curiosity: The desire to learn and explore new things. 
• Initiative: The ability to act and make things happen. 
• Persistence: The ability to persevere in the face of challenges and setbacks. 
• Adaptability: The ability to adjust to new situations and changing circumstances. 
• Leadership: The ability to inspire and guide others towards a common goal. 
• Social and cultural awareness: The ability to understand and appreciate different cultures and perspectives. 

To succeed, we don’t have to be experts in everything, but we do need a balance of foundational literacy, competencies, and character qualities. It’s the mix of these three that really makes the difference. 

How do these skills get applied in the real world?

Let’s illustrate this with some real-world examples: 

Sir David Attenborough has been exploring and documenting the natural world for over 60 years. Grounded in geology and zoology, which he studied at Cambridge, he has leveraged his scientific literacy to produce and present documentaries on natural history and environmental issues, where he uses his excellent communication and critical thinking competencies to explain complex scientific concepts in an engaging and accessible way. Among his character qualities is obviously curiosity: he has never ceased to be fascinated by learning new things that he can then tell us about. What may be less known are his leadership abilities. As controller of BBC2 in the channel’s infancy, he set the standard for “authored documentaries” and was responsible for commissioning programmes as varied as Match of the Day, Monty Python’s Flying Circus and The Money Programme. 

You (and your children) may know Emma Watson primarily from her work on the Harry Potter movies, but she has also exhibited her literacy and cultural and civil literacy skills as an author of books and speeches on gender equality and women’s rights. She needed her communication competency to deliver those speeches at the United Nations and in many interviews. Emma Watson’s character qualities such as initiative and leadership drove her to create the HeForShe movement to promote gender equality. 

Martin Lewis, founder of the MoneySavingExpert.com website has been promoting financial literacy and consumer rights for over 20 years, demonstrating not only his own financial literacy skills but also a healthy set of competencies and qualities including initiative, communication, collaboration and leadership. He explains complex financial concepts in an engaging and accessible way, and founded the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, which aims to improve the lives of people with mental health problems by promoting financial education and support. 

Success, for these British luminaries, as well as our children, requires a combination of all three areas – foundational literacy, competencies, and character qualities. This is what they need to thrive in an uncertain, complex, and frankly, tough world. 

Convinced? Great, you’re in good company. Globally, there’s a consensus, from UNESCO to the WEF, EU, and the UK government, that new learning approaches are needed to address challenges. However, there’s a problem: ‘there is currently little or no substantial evidence available on the most effective tools and approaches to deliver those skills’.¹

In the meantime, our education systems maintain the status quo – focusing on foundational competencies and standardised assessments. That’s not the right answer for today’s parents who must try to supplement the gaps. 

But here’s where parents can make a difference. In the absence of a globally agreed map, many innovative educators are simply taking action, and you can too! 

Join me on my journey to enrich my children’s education through meaningful family experiences, to prepare them for a future we’re only beginning to understand.

1. 21st Century Skills | Institute of Development Studies ︎

The post A Parent’s Guide to 21st Century Skills first appeared on Conflicted Parent.

We’re experiencing a profound shift as technology, society, and the environment transform the way we live, work, and learn. Literacy in the digital world is a hot topic. Businesses tell us that our school leavers are missing critical competencies and skills for the future, and that they are not being taught in schools. So, what can we do about it?

In this post, I explore how and why I think the system needs to change and the role parents can play in the face of an educational system that is slow to respond.

The Evolving Educational Landscape

Every day, there are more and more globally emerging trends that our children must grapple with. 

• Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are throwing both opportunities and challenges at us, especially when it comes to human creativity, problem-solving, and working together.
• The digital revolution and globalisation are making the whole world a classroom with everything going online. Learning resources and opportunities are everywhere, making education more accessible and diverse. 
• The world is getting more complex and unpredictable. Learners need to be quick on their feet, ready to handle rapid changes and navigate through uncertainty and risk.
• Lastly, there are big issues like climate change, inequality, and human rights. Learners need to understand the world. Empathy, responsibility, and civic engagement are also for kids, not just for grown-ups.

These trends are challenging the traditional UK education system, the system that’s all about standardised assessments and putting heavy emphasis on memorisation, repeating facts, and individual performance. What’s even worse is that these assessment methods seem to promote a ‘me-first’ mentality: chasing attention, competition, and a need to be first. What’s more, research suggests that this can lead to bullying and exclusion for those at both the top and the bottom of the academic ladder¹.

Kids’ Literacy in the Digital World

Business leaders at the World Economic Forum (WEF) have defined the critical skills needed to succeed in the 21^st Century² – and, bad luck parents, our current system is not geared up to equip young learners with the competencies they need to succeed.

Trust me, this isn’t as complicated as it looks. I explain it further here.

You don’t even need to take the WEF’s word for it. In the UK, our own teachers and educational leaders are raising their voices in alarm stating loudly and clearly that ‘the current education system is too focused on qualifications at the expense of broader aims, and thereby is falling significantly short in preparing young people to thrive in the 21^st century.’³

Rethinking Education

To prepare our kids for the future, we need to rethink the education system, shifting away from a one-size-fits-all approach to a more personalised one. There are some key ingredients that educators believe are required to make the shift:

• Learner-Centred: Children’s interests and needs should be the map in their learning journey.
• Tech-Enabled: Learners should embrace the digital age, and be provided with a network of resources and opportunities through technology advancements. More on this in future posts!
• Project-Based: Students should be engaged in real-world projects that make a difference and unleash their creativity rather than be pumped with knowledge.
• Competency-Driven: Skills should be assessed – not kids’ ability to memorise information.

Many schools are introducing some of these ingredients, and there are some interesting educational trailblazers from which to take inspiration. Unfortunately though, changing an entire system is neither easy nor cheap.The bottom line is ‘Education is Hard’!

The Role of Parents

With the squeeze on public spending, the struggle to recruit teachers, the increasing cost of private schooling and the glacial pace of educational change, parents must step up. We cannot afford to be spectators in our children’s education. We have to support them by being:

• Lifelong Learners: Stay curious, update your skills, and explore new perspectives.
• Mentors and Coaches: Guide them and support their passions.
• Advocates and Changemakers: Work with teachers, volunteer at schools, become a school governor or trustee, engage with educational organisations.

It might sound like an impossible task, but as parents in this brave new world we have little option if we don’t want ourselves and our children to be left behind by the digital wave. And hey, we can try to have a bit of fun in the process!

1. Backing the ‘bullies’: why bullying is endemic in schools and what needs to change | Birmingham City University School of Education and Social Work ︎
2. 21st Century Skills | World Economic Forum ︎
3. HMC survey finds curriculum and assessment is no longer fit for purpose | HMC ︎

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