Have you ever asked yourself what makes some children better at keeping their emotions in check or generally dealing with people? Well, the answer most of the time is emotional intelligence. In very young children, the developmental phase of Emotional intelligence (EI) is most important in the navigation of social intricacies, close relationships, and feelings control. 

What is Emotional Intelligence?

It’s the ability to be aware of one’s emotions and those of others, having the capacity to regulate them. It encompasses several elements: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, social skills, and empathy. Emotional intelligence (EI) in younger children is learning how to identify their feelings, understand how their actions are going to affect others, and know how to react to feelings in a healthy way. It means teaching them how to navigate their emotional world, to be able to interact well with people around them.

The Importance of Emotional Intelligence for a Child’s Development

Emotional intelligence forms the basis for the all-round development of children. Here is why it is important:

1. Improves Social Interactions: Children with higher Emotional intelligence (EI) show greater understanding in perceiving and reciprocating the emotion exhibited to them by others, making it easier for them to maintain good relations. 
2. Enhances Academic Success: Emotional intelligence in children handles stress and anxiety, thereby improving concentration and their predisposition to school.
3. Builds Resilience: Children with high Emotional intelligence (EI) cope and move on in the face of challenges or setbacks, making them more resilient.
4. Promotes Mental Health: Learning to understand and deal with feelings supports decreased cases of mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
5. Encourages Empathy: Emotionally intelligent children can put themselves in other people’s shoes; hence, they foster care and cooperation.

As per Dr. Swati Vats, Co-Founder of Podar Prep, emotional intelligence is on par with cognitive skills. It is the children who learn to manage their sentiments and those of others who are going to do well in each walks of life. Her insistence is on integrating the growth of Emotional intelligence (EI) within the curriculum of early childhood education so that there is holistic development. 

Tips to Develop Emotional Intelligence in Children

1. Model Emotional Intelligence: Children learn by observing adults, so lead by example. Demonstrate healthy emotional management by discussing your own feelings and showing compassion towards others.
2. Label Their Emotions: Help them with words to describe their feelings. When they are upset they say, “I see that you are really sad because your toy has broken. It’s okay to feel that way.”
3. Empathy: Describe how the child might feel in each particular situation. For instance, if one of their friends seems very sad, ask your child, “How do you think they feel? What do you think we can do to help?”
4. Create an emotionally safe environment for your child: Let’s give your child the freedom to express their feelings openly, and be there to comfort them when they need it. It’s all about creating a safe space where they know it’s okay to share what they’re going through.
5. Narrating Stories and Acting Them Out: Use stories with characters dealing with emotions and role-play to give your child enough practice on how to regulate their emotions.

Conclusion

Holistic development requires that the emotional intelligence of children is developed during the early years of their lives. You are going to enrich your child with competencies and ways through which they will cope with life, develop intimate relationships, and excel both academically and socially.

It is the Podar Prep inculcation of emotional intelligence as part of the curriculum in our school so that the child is PREPared for life! By developing this emotional ability at a tender age, children grow up to face any kind of situation with much ease.

Ready to help your child develop emotional intelligence? Join Podar Prep today, and let us arm your child with the right tools for a bright and emotionally healthy future!