Altruism, Social Skills, Relationships & the Art of Living Together: What We Can Pass On to Students

Kristijan Musek Lešnik
Nov 17, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Nov 26, 2025

Preschool and school is a social laboratory where young people practice the art of living together. Helping them build empathy, communication, cooperation, and altruism—through modeled behavior, collaborative tasks, conflict repair, and daily rituals that make kindness visible—means helping them develop skills that remain long after grades fade away.

“Social skills, empathy, and altruism aren’t “nice to have”—they’re essential life skills.”

Relationships matter.

The connections we have with others — the awareness that we are surrounded by people who love us and whom we love — form the most important foundation of psychological well-being and quality of life.

One of the key developmental tasks of childhood is to move beyond early egocentrism and grow into the wider social world. At preschool and school, children begin to form friendships and learn how to connect, cooperate, and build relationships that last beyond their families.

School as a Social Laboratory

Classrooms are complex social worlds—more varied than home—and perfect for practicing communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution. This role is even more important today, as children spend less unstructured time in peer groups than ever before.

While children traditionally practiced social skills outdoors — in fields, forests, or playgrounds — today’s children often spend free time indoors and online, communicating through screens instead of face-to-face. That’s why preschool and school offer a unique opportunity to nurture healthy social relationships and practice the art of living together.

What Children Learn Through Social Interaction

Perspective-taking: moving beyond egocentrism; respecting differences.
Listening & following directions: foundations of self-regulation.
Manners & respectful talk: everyday civility.
Teamwork beyond family: negotiation, shared goals, coexistence in diverse groups.
From “I win–you lose” to “we both win”: collaboration over competition.
Confidence from acceptance: positive peer experiences build social courage.
Shared interests → belonging: games, projects, clubs foster community.
Clear, kind communication: every disagreement and repair becomes a lesson.

Growing Prosocial Skills and Altruism

Preschool and school are also spaces where children can develop prosocial behaviors — helping, sharing, caring, and cooperating — as well as genuine altruism. The role of teachers and educators in this process cannot be overstated. Through their relationships with students, colleagues, and parents, teachers model how to connect, communicate, and resolve conflicts constructively.

Teachers who build warm, respectful, and friendly relationships teach through example.
Students who observe this learn how to form meaningful and lasting bonds.
Teachers who manage conflicts calmly raise students who approach disagreements not to humiliate or avoid, but to understand and resolve.

How to Help Children Develop Altruism and Social Skills

Plan activities where children help younger peers. Such activities (reading buddies, tech helpers, welcome ambassadors) help build empathy, responsibility, and a sense of contribution.
Create opportunities to help older adults. Visits, letters, interviews, intergenerational projects, and service learning connect children with community and compassion.
Encourage micro-volunteering. Small acts of service teach that helping others brings joy and meaning.
Design tasks that require collaboration and teamwork. Let children experience that cooperation often leads to better results than competition.
Notice and name altruism. Recognize when children act kindly or help others — acknowledgment reinforces these behaviors.
Teach conflict repair:
- What happened? (facts)
- Who was affected? (impact)
- Feelings named (self + other)
- Needs stated (“I need…”)
- Make it right (specific action)
- Follow up (check later)
Plan everyday routines that teach the “art of living together”
- Morning check-ins: mood scales / feeling words → builds emotional literacy.
- Talk moves posted: “I noticed…”, “I wonder…”, “I felt…”, “I need…”.
- Circle time / class meetings: weekly 10–15 min for community problem-solving.
- Collaborative norms: “One mic,” “Assume positive intent,” “Disagree respectfully.”
- Recognition rituals: “Shout-outs” for cooperation and courage.
- Calm corner with re-entry plan: regulation before discussion.
- Exit ticket: “One way I supported someone today.”

In the End

Social skills, empathy, and altruism are not just nice-to-have qualities — they are essential life skills. They help children belong, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships that sustain them through life. Because in the end, beyond all the lessons and achievements, what remains (long after they leave the school) are relationships — the invisible threads that connect us, give us strength, and make life truly worth living.