1. Definitions

Soft skills refer to non-technical interpersonal abilities and attributes that enable individuals to effectively interact, collaborate, and communicate with others. Examples include teamwork, empathy, communication, adaptability, and problem-solving.

Transversal skills are versatile competencies applicable across multiple areas of life and work, transcending specific professions or disciplines. They include critical thinking, communication, digital literacy, and learning-to-learn skills, enabling individuals to adapt to diverse and changing contexts.

Life skills are practical skills and abilities that empower individuals to manage everyday challenges and responsibilities effectively. These include decision-making, self-awareness, financial literacy, emotional management, and health-related practices. Life skills help people navigate personal and social situations.

21st-century skills encompass a set of knowledge, habits, and attitudes critical for success in a modern, interconnected, and fast-evolving world. They are typically categorized into three areas: (i) learning skills: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication; (ii) literacy skills: information literacy, media literacy, and digital literacy; (iii) life skills: flexibility, leadership, social skills, and productivity.

Soft skills, transversal skills, life skills, and 21st-century skills share a common emphasis on non-technical abilities that are transferable across various areas of life. They all focus on equipping individuals with the competencies needed to interact effectively with others, adapt to changing environments, and solve problems creatively. These skills overlap in their contributions to personal growth, interpersonal effectiveness, and professional success, highlighting their role in fostering adaptability and lifelong learning.

However, they differ in scope, context, and focus. Soft skills primarily centre on interpersonal traits such as communication, teamwork, and empathy, often applied in professional or social settings. Transversal skills are broader, including cognitive and digital competencies, such as critical thinking and learning to learn, which are relevant across disciplines and sectors. Life skills focus more on practical, emotional, and social abilities necessary for managing everyday challenges, such as decision-making, emotional regulation, and financial literacy. Meanwhile, 21st-century skills are tailored to the demands of the modern, interconnected world, emphasizing critical thinking, creativity, digital literacy, and global collaboration. While soft, transversal, and life skills have timeless relevance, 21st-century skills are particularly designed to address contemporary challenges in education, technology, and the workforce.
We summarize the main features in this table:

	Definition	Focus Area	Examples	Context
Soft Skills	Non-technical interpersonal abilities enabling effective interaction, collaboration, and communication.	Interpersonal & Social	Teamwork, empathy, communication, adaptability, problem-solving	Mainly professional and social settings
Transversal Skills	Versatile competencies applicable across different areas of life and work, transcending specific professions or disciplines.	Cognitive, Digital & Interpersonal	Critical thinking, communication, digital literacy, learning-to-learn	Applicable in education, work, personal life – transferable across domains
Life Skills	Practical and emotional skills that help individuals manage daily personal and social challenges effectively.	Personal & Social	Decision-making, self-awareness, financial literacy, emotional regulation, health practices	Primarily personal and social life, but also relevant in education and work
21st-Century Skills	Knowledge, habits, and attitudes crucial for success in a fast-evolving, interconnected world.	Learning, Literacy & Life	Critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, information literacy, media literacy, flexibility, leadership, social skills, productivity	Emphasis on education, digital contexts, and global workforce

Our focus have been on transversal skills because, having a broader meaning, it also includes cognitive skills that are fundamental for the 21st century: from now on, we will use mainly this term. 

2. Scientific evidence for teaching transversal skills in elementary schools

Scientific research supports the integration of soft skills education in elementary schools, highlighting its positive impact on students’ academic performance, social interactions, and future employability. Soft skills encompass interpersonal abilities such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability, which are essential for holistic development. Studies indicate that early instruction in soft skills enhances students’ social and emotional competencies, leading to improved classroom behaviour and academic outcomes. For instance, a report by Hanover Research (2018) emphasizes that incorporating soft skills into K-12 curricula prepares students for success in post-secondary education and employment. The report highlights the importance of teaching soft skills – such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving – within K-12 education. It provides evidence that early instruction in these skills positively impacts students’ academic performance, classroom behaviour, and long-term success in higher education and the workforce. The report also outlines strategies for integrating soft skills development into existing curricula, emphasizing their role in preparing students for real-world challenges and fostering adaptability.

Furthermore, research suggests that high-quality early childhood and elementary school programs that focus on character skills can have lasting and cost-effective benefits. A study from the Institute of Education Sciences (2020) explores how schools promote soft skills and their connection to long-term success. It identifies strategies like embedding social-emotional learning programs, fostering collaboration through group projects, and integrating communication and problem-solving exercises into everyday lessons. The research highlights a strong link between soft skills development during school years and later success in employment and life, emphasizing that traits such as adaptability, teamwork, and self-regulation are highly valued by employers and critical for career advancement.

In practice, various strategies have been employed to teach soft skills in elementary settings. For example, integrating soft skills development into subjects like science, social studies, and health has been shown to help students become critical thinkers and problem solvers, better preparing them for future challenges. Recent studies (see Studies Weekly 2024) emphasize the importance of teaching soft skills – like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving – in elementary schools. The authors suggest integrating these skills into subjects such as social studies, science, and health. For example, hands-on projects and collaborative learning in social studies build empathy and teamwork, while scientific inquiry fosters critical thinking and problem-solving. A dedicated health curriculum helps students regulate behaviour and improve emotional well-being. These strategies prepare students for academic, social, and lifelong success.

Overall, the body of evidence underscores the importance of embedding soft skills education within elementary curricula to foster well-rounded development and equip students with the necessary tools for future success.

3. Existing models

There are several established models for developing transversal skills in elementary schools. In what follows, we will discuss three of them: the LifeComp model, the UNICEF model and the CASEL framework. One of the most well-known models for developing transversal skills is LifeComp, the European Commission’s framework for personal, social, and learning-to-learn competencies. The LifeComp framework is applied primarily in the context of education to foster the development of key life skills across various stages of learning. It is intended to support educators, policymakers, and institutions in integrating these competencies into curricula at different educational levels.

In primary education LifeComp is used to guide the development of competencies such as self-regulation, communication, and critical thinking in young learners. It encourages educators to embed these skills within existing subjects like social studies, science, and language arts, allowing students to learn life skills alongside academic content. LifeComp encourages a holistic approach to education, where personal, social, and learning competencies are interwoven into everyday learning and activities. The framework is designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing educators to tailor it to the specific needs of their students and the context in which they are teaching.

The UNICEF model emphasizes the importance of developing soft skills in children to prepare them for the challenges of the 21^st century. These skills include problem-solving, communication, empathy, and adaptability, which are essential for personal development and active citizenship.

In its Global Framework on Transferable Skills, UNICEF identifies these competencies as central to building resilience and enabling young people to navigate personal, academic, social, and economic challenges. The framework highlights that these skills work alongside foundational knowledge and values, connecting and reinforcing other skills to build further knowledge.

By focusing on the development of transferable skills, UNICEF seeks to empower youth, enabling them to become adaptive, resilient, and active participants in their communities and the global society.

The CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) Framework is a widely recognized model that focuses on the development of social and emotional skills in children and adolescents. CASEL’s framework is designed to foster students’ emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and overall well-being, which are essential for success in both school and life. Overall, CASEL’s framework supports the idea that social and emotional learning is integral to academic success and overall personal development, helping students build the skills they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.