WINGS for Kids

WINGS weaves comprehensive social and emotional education into a fresh & fun program! Kids growing up in poverty often miss out on life lessons - how to behave well, make good decisions, build healthy relationships. WINGS instills those missing life lessons by weaving a comprehensive social and emotional intelligence education into a fresh and fun after school program. Kids get the life lessons they need to succeed and be happy - and they get a safe place to call home after school. In 1996 Ginny Deerin started WINGS in Charleston, S.C., to give kids the missing piece of their education. Coming from a business background, Ginny took a results-oriented approach that reaches kids in the elementary school years with cost-effective solutions and strategies that really work. WINGS is the only U.S. organization focused solely on developing and improving social and emotional intelligence within after school programming. We see the hours after school as a tremendous opportunity to fortify kids with the tools they need to succeed against the odds. Our carefully constructed 15-hour-a-week curriculum weaves 30 learning objectives into everyday activities that develop self-awareness, relationship skills, social awareness, self-management and responsible decision-making. The WINGS strategies and practices are designed to break down the components of social and emotional learning into readily understood skills and exercises so that students become aware, acquire and practice their newfound capabilities – all within a nurturing environment that provides constant encouragement, constructive feedback and positive reinforcement. Truly making an impact on the lives of kids requires sustained effort – and delivers results that can be measured. This proven track record for quality and effectiveness distinguishes WINGS in the field of youth development and social and emotional intelligence education.