Parents' and caregivers' primary goal is to raise children to develop their highest potential and build strong relationships with others to find success in life. Advancing emotional intelligence is the way to accomplish this – it's a game changer.
Our Children: Emotional Intelligence = Game Changer
As discussed in a previous blog, Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children, we must support our children by instilling emotional intelligence in them.
Children need to become aware of their emotions.
Fostering children's intellectual skills is very important for a successful life, but children need to learn how to become aware of their emotions and regulate them to have successful relationships. Ultimately, how children get along with other children will determine their success.
Parental impact on relationships.
How children manage socially depends on the interrelationship between parents and their children. A parent-child relationship can impact a child's ability to perceive their emotions. In addition, developing friendships is a big part of family and community life and is integral to a child's development.
Allow your children to experience their emotions.
Generally, children feel most comfortable in their home environment and naturally act out at home when their emotions are triggered. Adults often feel that same comfort. We behave in ways with our family that most of us would never share with friends or colleagues. Children learn through observing others, which can be a challenge if children observe socially unacceptable adult behaviours. When a child acts out or experiences a meltdown, they need help understanding and managing their emotions. Being at home with their family, who loves them unconditionally, can provide support and guidance.
A comfortable environment like home is the perfect venue to teach children how to assess and regulate their feelings in their early years. You develop their emotional intelligence when you help your children understand feelings like anger, confusion, and frustration. It is paramount to allow them to experience their emotions and understand why they feel that way.
Children with high emotional intelligence are better able to learn, problem-solve and develop positive social relationships. Author John Gottman explains;
“A child with a high emotional IQ is better able to cope with his feelings, can bring himself down from emotional high-wire acts, understands and relates well with others, and can form strong friendships more easily than a child with a lower emotional IQ”.
Without question, emotional intelligence is vital to a child's overall success in life. Teaching children emotional intelligence and awareness will strengthen their relationships and advance their social skills. Learn more about raising emotionally intelligent children here.
This article was originally published on May 27, 2017, and has been updated (May 2023).
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