Hello, my name is Margaret Sgouros and I am the founder of Initiatives for Kids (If Kids Seminars).

I am a full-time primary school teacher working in Sydney. I have many years teaching experience, particularly with Stage 3 (Years 5 and 6) students.

The pressures and expectations placed on Upper Primary students to be ready for high school are a reality.

I believe that these stresses, as well as the nature of today’s society are impacting on our children and as parents we need to provide more SUPPORT.

For several years now I’ve been noticing that some children succeed socially and emotionally and others don’t do as well.

I have seen these difficulties restrict the learning potential of the children and create poor confidence and low self esteem, reducing their ability to try.

Therefore, I decided to find out why this was so?

The answer came to me after much study and research. Finally I came across the work of Daniel Goleman and the more I read, the more sense it made.

He reassures educators that the differences are learned behaviours and that success lies in the teaching of these underlying principles.

Emotional Intelligence has become a highly sought after training method for executives, the principles are appropriate for children as well.

Therefore, I’ve decided to incorporate Mr Goleman’s principles on Emotional Intelligence and combine these with my teaching experience and insight into children’s needs, to create PRACTICAL individualised units of work for our
If Kids Seminars.

I want to support Year 5 and Year 6 children by teaching them that school can be fun and learning can be enjoyable.