6 Things All Parents Should Do To Raise Emotionally Intelligent Children
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As parents we worry about our kids constantly. We worry about their health, who they make friends with, their grades and if they’re wearing enough sunblock. A lot of our energy is devoted to ensuring they have the best quality of life and a good future. This means stressing on the importance of doing well academically in order to get into a prestigious university and secure a stable job. Most of our attention goes into nurturing their IQ (intelligence quotient) but what about their EQ (emotional quotient) ? A child’s emotional intelligence is as important, if not more, in order to ensure a better quality of life. It helps them become successful at work and teaches them how to deal with a wide variety of people. Not to mention it improves communication skills and helps you deal with stress in healthy ways. So, do you want to help your little one increase their emotional intelligence? Read on to know our favorite tips!
1. Don’t Avoid Negative Emotions
No one likes it when their feelings are neglected. Ignoring your child’s negative emotions or blaming them for exhibiting them will leave them disheartened and confused. They may get scared of experiencing negative emotions due to your reproach or indifference when really, they are very normal. When your child is grappling with negative emotions, it is best to acknowledge them and address them. Pretending like everything’s fine when they aren’t does not promote emotional intelligence. In fact, it stifles it. Your child should be able to identify what they are feeling and work through it accordingly.
2. Practice The Skill Of Active Listening
Having an open line of conversation is an important part of emotional intelligence. It is essential to engage your children in conversion in order to teach them how to communicate well. But remember, communication has two parts; speaking and listening. So when your child is talking to you, follow the dialogue, indicate your interest through body language and ask them questions so that they know you want to fully understand the situation. Using active listening will show your child that they have your attention, concern and love.
3. Teach Your Kids The Importance Of Problem-Solving
As much as we’d like to do everything for your little ones, it is imperative that they know how to deal with problems by themselves as they grow. The first stage is to teach your child how to deal with a problem instead of resorting to throwing tantrums. As important as it is to recognize negative emotions, the goal is to find ways to move past them. Show your child it’s okay to ask you or another trusted grown up for help. Validate their emotions without making them dwell on them. Instead, ask them to come up with different solutions. Ask them what would make them feel better. Give them the autonomy they want and let them figure it out!
4. Pretend Play Works Best
Do not discount the impact of make believe on your children. Make use of pretend play as much as you can. It may seem silly to you, but this activity teaches them all the necessary social skills in a fun and entertaining manner. Pretend play keeps them engaged while still letting them explore their feelings. It can also help shed light on another person’s perspective. Sometimes kids are far more empathetic to the plight of their favorite superhero than they are to you. So it’s okay to apply similar situations onto characters and act them out! Besides, it fosters their creativity which is a huge bonus!
5. Let Your Kids Express Their Negative Emotions In Healthy Ways
Keep in mind that your child’s ability to monitor and regulate emotions hasn’t developed fully. So sometimes they may find it hard to deal with frustration or anger and may act out. This is why it’s important to teach your child to express themselves in healthy ways. Or else you might have a little Rocky on your hands and no one wants that! Teach your kids how to de-stress. For example, punching a pillow or going for a run is much better than breaking things and hitting people.
6. Allow Them To Discover Their Triggers
Sit them down and figure out what makes them sad or anxious. Sometimes even your child doesn’t know what sets them off or puts them in a mood. Some of the most common explanations for frustration are new social situations and unexpected changes. So, if you’re planning on shifting them to a new school or shift houses, gear up for the big emotions coming your way. You can also prepare them for negative emotions by explaining the situation to them beforehand so that they are not completely caught off guard. Just because your kids are little doesn’t mean you don’t have to consider their feelings.
Look out for common physical triggers like hunger and fatigue. Ask your child to tell you when they are starting to get hungry or tired so that you can rectify the situation before they start feeling restless.
Now that you know how to increase your child’s emotional intelligence, raising kind, empathetic and communicative individuals will be much easier. Have we missed out on anything on our list? Let us know in the comments!
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