Psalms 127:3 Magnet Ministry Wholistic Development 

What is meant by wholistic development?

• Wholistic development is a process that focuses on addressing all of the needs of a child’s life: emotional, physical, relational, intellectual, creative and spiritual. 
  
• It is the process of helping a child come to self self-actualization [the realization of fulfillment of one’s talents and potentialities, especially considered as a drive or need present in everyone].
  
• This perspective of development encourages educators to look at the child as a whole and not focus on the individual parts. 
  
• This is an alternative approach to education which is a more open and explorative method to learning and development. 
  
• Through a Wholistic approach the educator can focus on the unique aspects of the child.

Area's of Development

Psalms 127:3 Magnet Ministry Approach to Education 

• Luke 2:52 “And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” 
• Our approach is ministering to all of a child’s needs, not just a selected few – is the most effective method promoting child development. This is why we carefully and thoughtfully minister to each child’s spiritual, physical, socio-emotional, and mental needs.
• Much like a flower, a child will grow and mature to a limited extent regardless of whether or not their specific needs are met. But to a degree of nurturing a child receives will determine whether or not that child truly blossoms. But facilitating the Wholistic development of children under our care, we help children fully blossom and reach his or her God-given potential.

Emotional Development: Resilience 

• Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
  
• 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control. 
  
• Resilience – the power or ability to return to the original form, position after being bent, compressed, or stretched; ability to quickly recover readily from illnesses, depression, adversity; buoyancy.
  
• As children become resilient, they understand and accept these two facts. They see life as challenging and ever changing, but they believe they can cope with those challenges and changes. They view mistakes and weaknesses as opportunities to learn, and they accept that losing may precede winning. They have a strong sense of self awareness and self esteem, including feelings of worth and competence. 

Physical: Healthy Habits = Healthy Lifestyle

• 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own.”
• 1 Samuel 2:26 “Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with men.” 
• Children are encouraged to respect and value their temples. Children are trained to cultivate their physical health and it is their responsibility to their best to maintain good health so they may successfully reach their destiny. We also teach, proper eating habits, exercise, rest and recreation are a part of a balanced and happy life. 
• Overall, the goal is to help children and adolescents acquire knowledge about their physical development, and to use this knowledge to make good decisions that will promote healthy development. 

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Relational Development - Appreciating Difference

• “Love your neighbor as yourself…” Mark 12:31
  
• Luke 6:31 “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
  
• We encourage children to have an open, respectful and positive attitude when interacting with peers as well as others. 
  
• This pathway also refers to children’s ability to develop and maintain healthy relationships, and to adequately negotiate challenging relationships. In addressing this pathway, the goal is to help children and adolescents to increase their capacity to build and maintain healthy relationships across the range of human diversity. 

Intellectual Development: Life Long Learners

• “Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge.” Proverbs 18:15
  
• “To these four boys God had given knowledge and skill in every aspect of learning and wisdom...” Daniel 1:17
  
• We teach children that God is the source of knowledge, understanding and wisdom; everything we know and understand originated from Him. 
  
• This pathway also refers to an children’s ability to think critically and creatively and to set and work towards accomplishing desired goals. The goal is for children and adolescents to increase their capacity to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information; to achieve mastery in required and selected content areas; to use information to effectively solve problems; and enjoy learning. 

Creative Development: Co-Creators

• “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27
  
• “For we are His workmanship, created in Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” Ephesians 2:10
  
• “For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building.” 1 Cor 3:9
  
• We encourage children to express and explore their creative nature through technology, art, language art, culinary and music. 
  
• We respect the spontaneous and essentially creative nature that is constantly unfolding in each child. 

Spiritual Development: Preparation for Purpose

• “Train up a child in the way he should go (and in keeping with his individual gift or bent), and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 
• We believe children should be trained in both secular and sacred areas of life. Because every child is different. They all have different temperament, responses, abilities, talents and characteristics. We believe in training up a child in the way of wisdom to live in the reverence of God if they so choose.