How To Stimulate Our Children’s Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is the ability to properly recognize, assess, and value our emotions and those of others so that our actions can be in tune with the emotions we feel.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Many researches have stated that the abilities and skills needed to succeed in life cannot be measured using any intelligence test. A bright brain and a high IQ is not very helpful if we don’t understand other people’s emotions and don’t have empathy.

Most parents know that their children’s education is closely linked to the correct development of emotions. Family relationships play a fundamental role in the emotional well-being of the entire family. In the same way, otherwise, they are the cause of conflict and discomfort, causing negative emotions that affect the whole family.

A home characterized by peace, calm, harmony and happiness will be a perfect environment to channel your children’s emotions. Parents are the role models for children to follow. Therefore, above all, parents need to have a good emotional conscience. That is, they need to be aware of their emotions, their causes and their possible consequences.

How to help our children to have emotional intelligence?

To help our children correctly manage their emotions we must teach them to verbalize their emotions from an early age. It’s good to teach little ones how to connect with themselves so they can better understand how they feel and then they can express themselves. Any time or situation of the day is suitable for practicing and developing your own emotional awareness.

In addition, it is also important that children pay attention to their emotions, both positive, for example, when they are happy, and negative, when they are sad or angry, so that they can label and name them. We must not forget the importance of looking for the cause of this emotion. We must therefore try to find out what is causing this feeling and, more importantly, why they feel this way. The aim is for them to acquire an emotional awareness of their own.

In the case of negative emotions, it is best to teach children to look for alternatives to these emotions. That is, if something is bothering them, make them see that in the face of the same situation it is possible to act in many ways and that the decision we make is not always the right one. Emotions are, in many cases, responsible for our thoughts and actions. Therefore, learning to recognize and respond to them can help us to be empathetic and more flexible.

Characteristics of parents with a high emotional intelligence

• They have physical and mental tools for self-control.
• They are based on facts rather than prejudices. First impressions are never decisive.
• They have the ability to see the bright side of things, that is, to turn the negative into positive.
• They know how to take responsibility for actions and learn from mistakes.
• They are able to set limits and be firm if necessary.
• They are open to meeting new people.

How to work emotional education in your child?

From a very young age, our children are exposed to various emotions and feelings that they must learn to perceive in a positive way in order to have appropriate behaviors. That depends on having good social relationships and an active participation in society that is reflected in personal satisfaction.

Here are some of the things you should work on with your child to encourage the development of emotional intelligence:

Communication

• Seek spaces to speak and listen in an open and active way.
• Replace closed questions with open questions.

Recognize the strengths

• Congratulate the achievements and efforts.
• Don’t label inappropriate behaviors.
• Encourage affection.

help in difficult times

• Transmit security and a lot of calm.

Help manage your emotion

• Help the little ones to face the situation and find a solution together.
• Use all conflicts so your child can learn from them.

Remember that nurturing your child’s emotional intelligence will not only help her to have good communication and relationships at home, but it will also allow her to develop naturally in the future, make her own decisions, and act right.