On Monday, March 17th, our nursery students had a wonderful opportunity to connect with children from Astana IB School (Mirras international school). As part of our IB PYP curriculum, we emphasize the development of social-emotional skills that will help students succeed in the future. A key element of this is international mindedness—the ability to respect, understand, and appreciate different cultures. International mindedness is about more than just recognizing diversity, it’s about truly seeing people, learning about their cultural backgrounds, and new perspectives. Experiences like these play a vital role in developing essential social skills such as communication, empathy, confidence, and active listening. During the exchange, the children were thrilled to meet their new friends, introduce themselves, and ask questions. They learned about Kazakhstan—its national food, traditional clothing, and flag. They were especially excited to see the Astana students playing in the snow! This sparked a lively discussion about winter, snow, and how to build snowmen. One of our students even had the confidence to share a whole story about snowmen and how they are made. Through these interactions, the students practiced expressing themselves clearly, taking turns in conversations, and listening with curiosity and respect. They also learned how to find common interests with children from a different country, reinforcing the idea that friendships can be built beyond borders. The children shared their own experiences and traditions, making this exchange a valuable step toward developing cultural understanding. Small interactions like these help children appreciate that while people may come from different backgrounds, each culture has its own beauty, wisdom, and unique contributions to the world. Next time we meet, it will be our turn to introduce Bangladesh! Our nursery students are eagerly looking forward to sharing details about Bangladeshi food, the national flag, and traditional dress. We will sing our favorite song in Bengali and English. As IB educators, we believe in every child’s potential to contribute to a more open, understanding, and interconnected world. Experiences like these not only nurture a perspective but also help children build confidence in their communication skills, develop emotional intelligence, and learn the importance of respect and collaboration.
