Inside GrowWell’s Think-Tank in Zagreb: Where Research Meets Real Classrooms
The GrowWell Think-Tank Workshop — part of the project “Empowering Preschool Educators to Foster Resilience and Well-being Among Children” — brought together partners from Croatia, Ireland, and Serbia for two days of honest dialogue, evidence-based reflection, and practical decision-making.
From Icebreakers to Big Questions
The workshop began with laughter, movement, and connection. It may sound simple, but trust is the foundation of meaningful collaboration.
Because GrowWell isn’t only about developing materials.
It’s about aligning values.
When partners from different countries and educational systems come together, they bring:
- Different classroom realities
- Different cultural expectations
- Different policy environments
Yet they share the same concern:
Children today are experiencing increasing emotional pressures — and preschools are on the frontline.
What Is Really Happening in Early Childhood?
The discussions quickly moved beyond theory.
Together, we examined:
- The most common mental health challenges observed in early childhood
- The gap between policy ambition and classroom reality
- The growing recognition of social-emotional learning (SEL) across Europe
And then came a perspective too often absent from policy discussions:
Parents.
Through survey insights and open dialogue, families made their priorities clear — emotional regulation, empathy, resilience, communication skills.
Parents are not looking for abstract frameworks. They are looking for practical tools that help children navigate real emotions, real friendships, and real frustrations.
That voice reshaped the room.
One Europe, Many Approaches
When Croatia, Ireland, and Serbia shared their national approaches to SEL, one thing became clear:
There is no single model.
Some systems emphasise structured curriculum.
Others prioritise mindfulness.
Some embed SEL organically into everyday routines.
The value of the exchange was not about comparison.
It was about recognition:
- What works.
- What’s missing.
- What can be adapted across contexts.
The atmosphere shifted from presentation to co-creation.
Seeing SEL in Action
Theory stepped aside when partners visited a local kindergarten to observe social-emotional learning in practice.
There were no slides. No policy papers.
Just children:
- Negotiating play
- Expressing feelings
- Solving small conflicts
- Practising empathy
It grounded the entire discussion.
This is who GrowWell is for.
The Turning Point: Defining the 12 SEL Pillars
One of the most energising moments was the collaborative session to finalise the 12 core SEL pillars that will guide GrowWell’s educational outputs.
This was not a symbolic exercise. It required:
- Challenging assumptions
- Identifying gaps
- Proposing refinements
- Voting and building consensus
Moving from 11 preliminary topics to 12 agreed pillars may sound like a small adjustment — but in project design, clarity defines impact.
These 12 pillars will shape:
- Educator resources
- Parent materials
- Digital platform content
- Training activities
They form the backbone of the project.
More Than Pedagogy: Building Visibility and Impact
No European initiative succeeds without strong communication.
The workshop also focused on:
- Developing a coherent communication strategy
- Establishing tools and digital channels
- Ensuring consistent branding
- Preparing for wider outreach
Because if the work remains within meeting rooms, it does not transform systems.
GrowWell aims not only to design tools — but to build a recognisable European conversation around resilience and early childhood well-being.
What Made This Workshop Different?
It wasn’t just the structured sessions. It was:
- The willingness to question
- The openness to adapt
- The commitment to evidence
- The balance between research and practice
- The shared understanding that resilience is not an “extra” — it is foundational
Zagreb was not a milestone because an agenda was completed.
It was a milestone because alignment was achieved.
What Happens Now?
The Think-Tank clarified direction.
The 12 SEL pillars are defined.
Communication channels are being established.
The implementation phase begins.
GrowWell now moves from conversation to creation — developing practical, accessible tools that empower preschool educators and support families in nurturing resilience from the earliest years.
Because well-being does not begin in adolescence.
It begins in preschool.
And it begins with adults who are equipped to nurture it.
What Came Out of Zagreb?
The conversations were rich.
The debates were thoughtful.
The alignment was intentional.
But the most important outcome was clarity.
Together, partners moved from broad discussions about well-being to a shared, structured framework that will guide GrowWell’s educator resources,
parent materials, and digital tools.
At the heart of that framework are 12 carefully defined Social-Emotional Learning pillars — practical building blocks designed to support children’s resilience from the earliest years.
These pillars are not abstract concepts.
They are grounded in research, classroom observation, parental input, and cross-European expertise.
They are the foundation of everything GrowWell will now develop.
👉 Twelve decisions.
One framework.
A shared direction.
Next, we take a closer look at the 12 Social-Emotional Learning pillars shaping the path ahead.
Ready to help the next generation grow well?