The LANA Approach: An Architecture for the Whole Child
Goal of the Methodology: To nurture a generation that thinks wholly, feels deeply, and acts consciously.
Introduction: The Philosophy of Our Approach
Imagine an education not as a conveyor belt loading a standard set of knowledge into a child, but as the careful work of an architect helping them build their own unique and beautiful home. A home where the deep roots of family values and a solid foundation of well-being support the high arches of a flexible intellect and boundless creativity.
The LANA Approach is precisely this architecture. It is a holistic educational system based on the harmonious balance of two principles—the “Two Wings of a Whole Personality”:
- The Roots (Being & Feeling): This is our inner world. Self-awareness, emotional intelligence, connection to nature, empathy, human values, and the ability to be in harmony. This is the foundation of psychological resilience.
- The Wings (Doing & Knowing): This is our expression in the outer world. A flexible mind, systems thinking, curiosity, innovation, and the ability to set and achieve goals. This is the engine of progress and self-realization.
Only when both roots are deep and wings are strong is a high, free, and conscious flight into life possible. Our goal is to raise a generation of creators of their own reality—people who do not just adapt to the future, but create it with confidence and responsibility. Every sturdy home begins with roots that go deep into the earth and a reliable foundation. For a child, this is their family and their health.
Roots & Foundation: Family and Holistic Well-being
Family as the Primary Source: We are deeply convinced that education is a partnership. The family is a child’s first and most important teacher. Our task is not to replace the family but to become an extension and support for it. We create a space where the cultural traditions and roots of every family are valued and respected, because knowing “where I come from” is the basis for self-respect and openness to other cultures.
Example: We regularly hold “Cultural Days,” where families share their traditions, prepare national dishes, bring music, and tell stories. This teaches children to be proud of their heritage and to perceive the world’s diversity with genuine interest.
Psychological Health: Our highest priority is to create an absolutely safe space where every child feels seen, heard, and accepted. We do not suppress emotions; we teach children to name, experience, and understand them.
Example: Instead of saying “don’t cry,” our educator sits down beside the child and says, “I see you’re very upset that your tower broke. That is really sad. Let’s breathe together, and then we can decide if we want to build a new one.” We also use an “emotion wheel” and special cards to help children who struggle to verbalize show what they are feeling.
Healthy Nutrition: We see food not as fuel, but as information for the body and brain. Our menu, developed with nutritionists, consists of high-quality, natural products that support cognitive function, improve mood, and provide energy for exploration, not hyperactivity.
Example: Children don’t just receive ready-made meals; they participate in preparing them. They wash vegetables for a salad, help knead dough for gluten-free bread, and make smoothies. They see how delicious meals are born from simple, whole ingredients and learn to appreciate healthy food. We completely exclude refined sugar and processed products.
A Rich Sensory Environment: We consciously use sensory stimuli to harmonize children’s state, develop their brains, and refine their motor skills. This applies not just to smells, but to everything they can touch.
Example (Tactile Experience): We have “sensory bins” with various fillers (kinetic sand, beans, smooth stones, water) where children can play freely. Instead of plastic toys, we prefer natural materials: wood with its unique texture, wool, linen, and clay. Children walk barefoot on special orthopedic mats with different surfaces.
Example (Scents): In our quiet area, we might use a diffuser with lavender essential oil to promote relaxation. Before activities that require concentration, a light citrus scent can invigorate and stimulate mental activity.
The Supporting Walls: Language and Personalized Learning
The walls of a house are what form its structure and space. In our methodology, this is language as a tool for thinking and a personalized approach to understanding the world.
Language as a Tool: Mastery of language is the ability to shape one’s inner universe into a form that is understandable to others.
The Value of Bilingualism: Scientific research proves that learning a second language at an early age fundamentally restructures the brain. It develops cognitive flexibility, enhances problem-solving skills, and is a foundation for empathy and global thinking.
Inquiry-Based Learning: Learning begins not with the teacher’s answer, but with the child’s question. We help children develop their own research projects, through which they construct knowledge themselves rather than receiving it ready-made.
Example: We don’t say, “Today’s topic is insects.” We notice that the children are fascinated by a ladybug during a walk and help them launch a full project: “What is the world of a ladybug like?” In this project, they explore biology, mathematics (counting the spots), and art (drawing).
Personalization Through Ethical Technology: Artificial Intelligence (AI) at LANA is an educator’s assistant that helps adapt tasks to each child’s individual pace and interests, freeing up the teacher’s time for what matters most: live, human connection.
Example: An adaptive program on a tablet notices that a child easily handles simple counting but struggles with number combinations for 7. The system will offer several engaging games specifically on this topic, allowing the child to close the gap at their own pace.
“Brain Gymnastics”: We actively use exercises to develop interhemispheric coordination and concentration.
Example: Children perform an exercise where the right hand draws a circle in the air while the left draws a square. This is a direct training of the brain’s ability to multitask and think systematically.
The Living Space Within: The Power of Free Play
The most important part of a house is not the walls, but the living space between them. In education, this is free play.
Play as the Primary Mechanism of Learning: We see play not as a “break” between lessons, but as the most important lesson of all. From a neurobiological perspective, it is in free, child-initiated play that the fundamental skills for the 21st century are forged.
Example: While building a sandcastle together, children aren’t just playing. They are learning to negotiate (communication), figure out how to make a wall stronger (critical thinking), invent stories (creativity), and handle frustration if it collapses (emotional regulation).
The Surrounding Landscape: Integration with Nature
A home cannot exist in a vacuum. Nature at LANA is not scenery; it is a full participant in the educational process.
Nature-Based Learning: Regular contact with nature is proven to reduce stress, improve concentration, and stimulate creativity.
Example: We learn about symmetry by examining a maple leaf and practice counting by collecting and sorting pinecones. This way, knowledge becomes not abstract, but deeply felt, fostering a loving relationship with the world.
The House Rules: Conscious Freedom and Global Citizenship
Even the most beautiful home needs rules to make life comfortable and safe for everyone. At LANA, we teach the art of being a free and responsible citizen—of one’s home, city, and the world.
Freedom is Responsibility: We explain that freedom is the power to choose and the responsibility for the consequences of that choice. My freedom ends where another person’s begins.
Example: If one child wishes to be alone, their freedom is the right to solitude. The freedom of other children is to respect that boundary.
Global Citizenship: Building on respect for their own roots and mastery of languages, we nurture a “global citizen” mindset in children. This is not a political term but a way of thinking: understanding that we all share one planet and that diversity is our strength.
Outcome: The Portrait of a LANA Graduate
A LANA graduate is a whole person with deep roots and wide wings. They are a young creator, ready to build their own amazing reality with love and consciousness, and to make a positive contribution to our shared world.
Scientific and Philosophical Foundation
- Constructivism and Social Interaction: Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky.
- Humanistic Psychology and Self-Actualization: Carl Rogers, Abraham Maslow.
- Learning by Doing: John Dewey.
- Theory of Multiple Intelligences: Howard Gardner.
- Neuroscience, Music, and the Brain: Tatyana Chernigovskaya.
- The Importance of Free Play: Stuart Brown, Peter Gray.
- Emotional Intelligence: Daniel Goleman.
- Global Citizenship and the Learner Profile: The International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization.