How to Nurture Emotional Intelligence

In the classroom, students become book-smart. Out in the world, they become street-smart. But what about emotional intelligence? Some children naturally pick up on social cues and find it easy to regulate their emotions, but most need help developing this kind of intelligence. Skills like self-awareness, self-regulation, relationship management and social awareness can all be built early in life. Here’s how you can nurture emotional intelligence for your child:  

Practice Mindfulness and Self-reflection

For children, self-reflection may not come naturally. They’re often focused on what’s in front of them and can’t necessarily see the forest through the trees. The best way to introduce this concept to children is through journaling. Journaling gives children a creative outlet and a place to process emotions. Meditation and breathing exercises can also help children learn to self-regulate and reset. We can feel like we’re too busy to self-reflect, but that feeling makes it all the more important. 

Develop Empathy and Active Listening Skills

Empathy can also be a tough lesson for children to grasp. When your child becomes upset about another person’s actions, ask them to put themselves in the other person’s shoes. Consider why that person may have acted that way and that they may not have meant any harm. Tell your child that their feelings are valid, but the other person’s feelings are, as well. They need to know that everyone sees life from a different perspective. 

Improve Communication Skills

People of all ages can struggle with communication, and with children, you have to remember that they’re just learning how to communicate. Skills like using “I” statements to express frustration may not come naturally. Help your child figure out the best way to communicate their feelings. This also extends to sticking up for themselves when they need to be assertive. Let them practice with you, and gently guide them toward communicating in a way that gets their point across without holding back or going too far. 

Understand Their Own Emotions

Managing emotions starts with knowing what they are. When your child feels upset, help them label the emotion. You can do this by asking a question, like “Does that make you feel angry?” Chances are, if that’s not the case, they’ll correct you. Focus on labeling positive emotions, too, so they have more than just “happy” to lean on. Help them understand that all emotions serve a purpose, even ones we label as negative. 

Manage Stress and Emotions

Once your child determines what emotions they’re feeling, they can work on managing those emotions. This means identifying what causes them to feel that way, and then figuring out how to cope. Coping can be as simple as taking a deep breath before responding in anger. It can also be taking a walk to physically move away from a difficult situation. Show your child different coping strategies, and they’ll figure out what works best for them. 

At our Titusville private school, we believe developing emotional intelligence early can help children thrive throughout their lives. With over 57 years of academic excellence, St. Teresa Catholic School provides a quality education that goes from PreK-3 through 8th grade. To learn more about why St. Teresa is the perfect fit for you and your student, contact us today.