Importance of Nurturing Emotional Intelligence in Children

Parenting is a wild ride full of happy moments, tough times and chances to bond deeply with your kids. Teaching kids about emotional intelligence helps them to grow into strong, kind and beautiful people. 

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence in kids starts with self awareness of their emotions, self-regulating them according to their circumstances, and showing empathy towards others emotions. Nurturing Emotional Intelligence includes teaching your kids healthy ways to regulate their emotions. 

How to demonstrate your kid’s emotional intelligence? 

Active listening:

When your child talks about their feelings, give them your full attention. Put down your phone, look them in the eye and listen to what they are trying to say. Even if your child does not speak properly, this makes them feel that their words matter. It encourages your little one to be a good listener also.

Solving problems together:

Whenever they face a problem, try to not always solve their problem, encourage them to do it on their own, and support them. Let them solve that puzzle on their own, this will help them strengthen their decision-making skills. 

Creating a Safe Space:

Make your kid feel safe by creating a non-judgmental space. A place where they can share their feelings without the fear of judgment. It encourages them to be open and honest with you, making parent-child bonds stronger.

Teaching empathy:

When you play Peek-a-boo with your kid, they smile, and when you mimic a cry, they feel sad. This is how your little one learns empathy towards others. Ask them to share their toy or food, their reaction would help you in understanding the intensity of their empathy.

Tips for Parenting When You’ve Lost Your Cool

Even the best parents lose their cool sometimes-it’s totally normal! The most important thing is how you handle it afterward.

Pause and Reflect:

Think about what made you upset and don’t try to be hard on yourself.

Say Sorry:

If you snap at your child, give a heartfelt apology. It will show your little one that it’s okay to accept your mistake and apologize for it.

Be Kind To Yourself:

Parenting is tough! Forgive yourself for those messy moments. Remember that growth and learning come from these experiences.

Remember that being perfect is not the goal, but being progressive is. As parents, it’s important to build emotional intelligence in your little ones so they navigate this tricky world with ease.