Emotional intelligence (EI) is being able to understand, manage, and use our own emotions and the emotions of others. It is such an important skill for success in life, both personally and professionally.
Here are some tips for teaching children emotional intelligence:
Label emotions. Help children learn to identify and name their own emotions. This can be done by talking about emotions in everyday life, using feeling words, and helping children to connect their emotions to their behaviour.
Model emotional intelligence. Children learn by watching the adults in their lives. Be a role model by demonstrating emotional intelligence yourself. This means being able to identify and name your own emotions, manage your emotions in a healthy way, and be empathetic to the emotions of others.
Talk about emotions. Create opportunities for children to talk about their emotions. This can be done through open-ended questions, stories, and activities.
Help children manage their emotions. Teach children healthy ways to manage their emotions, such as taking deep breaths, counting to ten, or talking to a trusted adult.
Teach empathy. Help children understand how others might be feeling. This can be done by talking about different emotions, reading stories about empathy, and role-playing.
Create a safe space for emotional expression. Let children know that it is okay to feel a variety of emotions and that they can come to you to talk about their feelings.
By following these tips, you can help your children build and maintain friendships, improve their confidence and communication and help them be understand their own and others feelings.
