At SKILLZ, we are dedicated to ensuring that every interaction our instructors have with your child builds confidence, resilience, and emotional intelligence. One of the key components of our training is the Think Big, Teach BIGGER approach, developed by SKILLZ Founder Melody Johnson. This concept ensures that we create an environment where children feel supported, empowered, and ready to thrive.
The Brain Bank Concept
Think of your child’s emotional well-being like a brain bank account. Some days, their account is full—they feel happy, motivated, and supported. Other days, stress, anxiety, or challenges at home or school may leave their account running low. Every interaction—whether from a teacher, coach, or peer—either adds deposits or makes withdrawals from this bank.
✅ Deposits: Encouragement, praise, active listening, and small acts of kindness.
❌ Withdrawals: Criticism, stress, lack of support, or negative experiences.
Our SKILLZ instructors are trained to be intentional about making more deposits than withdrawals, ensuring your child is in a positive mental space for growth and learning.
Why This Matters
When children experience more withdrawals than deposits, their emotional and mental well-being suffers. This can lead to:
– Behavioral challenges
– Increased anxiety and stress
– Disengagement in activities
– Low self-confidence
By ensuring a healthy balance of positive reinforcement, we help children build resilience, feel valued, and stay motivated.
How We Implement This in SKILLZ Classes
At SKILLZ, we train our team to actively implement these strategies:
1. Intentional Interactions – Greeting every child warmly, using their name, and offering encouragement throughout class.
2. Positive Reinforcement – Celebrating small victories, effort, and improvement rather than just final results.
3. Understanding Developmental Stages – Adapting our teaching methods to each child’s age-appropriate needs.
4. Encouraging a Growth Mindset – Helping kids see challenges as opportunities to learn rather than obstacles.
How Parents Can Support This Approach at Home
You can help reinforce these principles by:
– Making intentional deposits each day with encouragement, active listening, and quality time.
– Recognizing when your child’s brain bank balance is low and adjusting your interactions accordingly.
– Encouraging intrinsic motivation rather than relying on rewards or punishment.
Listen to the Podcast for More Insights
To learn more about the Think Big, Teach BIGGER approach and how it can benefit your child, check out SKILLZ Founder Melody Johnson’s latest podcast episode! She dives deeper into these concepts and how they can transform the way we educate, coach, and raise confident kids.
🎧 Listen Here:
https://www.themelodyjohnsonpodcast.com
🎥 Watch on YouTube:
We are proud to bring the most advanced child development training to our SKILLZ team so that your child gets the best possible experience in every class. Let’s continue to work together to Think Big and Teach BIGGER!
