Nurturing RELATIONSHIPS (The Heart of Happiness and Well-Being) in Education
- Kristijan Musek Lešnik
- Nov 16, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
No single factor shapes wellbeing more than relationships. Trusting, caring bonds multiply joy, gratitude, and meaning—and buffer stress and loss. In classrooms and preschools, relationship skills are not “extras”; they are core learning.
The Power of Connection
"No road is long in good company.”— Turkish proverb
Countless studies show that no single factor shapes our well-being and life satisfaction more powerfully than the quality of our relationships. Human beings are deeply social creatures — we flourish in environments that nurture connection, emotional closeness, love, and intimacy. Relationships grounded in mutual trust, care, and support are strongly linked to greater happiness, hope, and gratitude. They become our protective net when we face difficulties, loss, or loneliness.
Strong, sincere connections give us a hand to hold in hard times. Yet even brief, one-time encounters — a kind word, a smile, a moment of genuine attention — can lift our mood and positively influence our health..
In Groups and Communities Where Relationships Thrive, So Does Joy
Communities with strong, supportive bonds experience more positive emotions — joy, gratitude, belonging, and trust. Lasting relationships with the people around us nurture these feelings and provide a steady sense of support and stability.
Acts of kindness and altruism — whether small gestures or meaningful help — enrich the well-being of everyone involved. The person receiving kindness feels cared for and valued, while the one offering it experiences increased joy, connection, and a deeper sense of purpose. In this way, kindness becomes a shared source of emotional nourishment that strengthens relationships from both sides.
Healthy, stable relationships boost happiness/satisfaction and naturally encourage greater empathy, cooperation, and care for others. They also provide meaning and purpose — feelings that grow and spread across social networks marked by trust and warmth. The support of close relationships can be a powerful medicine for those who feel low: a safe haven and a source of renewed strength.
Relationships in Preschools and Schools
In kindergartens and schools, activities that build social skills and healthy communication are essential for the quality of everyday life. This makes it one of the greatest responsibilities of everyone who works with children and young people to gently encourage — not force — the creation and maintenance of positive relationships.
Preschool and school are where a child’s social world opens up. It’s the place where they move from being the center of attention at home to learning how to coexist among peers. Here, they learn how to make friends, how to trust others, and how to become someone others can trust in return.
When we give children opportunities to form and sustain genuine, caring connections, we strengthen their social and emotional competencies — skills that will support them not only in school, but throughout their entire adult life.
The Importance of Relationships Among Educators
It’s not just about nurturing relationships with and among children and students. To truly flourish, a preschool/school also depends on the quality of relationships within its staff. The real foundation of a school’s success is not the number of projects completed, medals won, or equations solved — but the strength of the relationships among colleagues..
The strongest educational outcomes emerge where supportive, respectful relationships are paired with high professional integrity and a shared sense of responsibility. Preschool/school communities thrive when teachers and other educators trust one another, collaborate openly, and feel valued.
The Hardship of Loneliness
People with close friendships and supportive social networks are generally happier, more satisfied, and often live longer than those who feel isolated. Loneliness is not just an unpleasant emotion — it can be physically painful. Neuroscience shows that when we feel excluded or abandoned, the same regions of the brain activate as when we experience physical pain.
The Covid-19 pandemic reminded us all how deeply we depend on human connection — and how much it hurts when that connection is taken away. It’s no surprise, then, that throughout history, social exclusion has been considered one of the harshest forms of punishment. This is why one of the central responsibilities of teachers and schools is to ensure that no child feels left out, lonely, or excluded.
A Gentle Reminder
Yes, children and young people (actually, all people) benefit from social connection. But it’s important to remember that encouraging relationships is not the same as forcing them.
An introverted child’s quietness is not a flaw. They should never feel guilty or “less valued” because they prefer calm or solitude. When a child’s natural social rhythm is respected — not demanded — they learn that connection can take many forms, and all of them are valid.
In Essence
Healthy relationships are the heartbeat of well-being. They bring meaning, joy, resilience, and hope — in our classrooms, among colleagues, and in our everyday lives. When we nurture them with respect and authenticity, we help everybody flourish — including ourselves.
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© dr. Kristijan Musek Lešnik & GrowHumans.
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