Emotional Intelligence for Kids: How to Help Your Kids Navigate Big Feelings
Understanding and navigating our emotions is a lifelong journey, and often, people don't even begin to understand how they are feeling until they are adults. But what if I told you it doesn't have to be that way and that you can help your kids master the art of navigating their feelings from birth?
By supporting our children in raising their emotional intelligence, we are helping them navigate their big feelings and much more. Emotional intelligence is so important, and research shows there is a huge link to success in life.
Let's not only help our kids deal with big feelings; let's help them THRIVE!
Help kids deal with big feelings
The first step to supporting kids of any age in navigating their feelings is through recognition and labelling. By practising recognition and labelling, your child will become very familiar with all the different feelings there are, what they look like and how they physically feel.
Feelings magnets
My favourite way to help kids navigate big feelings is with feelings magnets. They are great fun for all ages. When we experience big emotions and struggle to communicate verbally, feelings magnets help by non-verbally telling others how we feel.
With little children, I begin by asking them to name the feeling face and something that might make them feel that way.
As they grow older, I introduce "I feel ____" exercises during mornings or evenings to get them practising until they're really comfortable with recognition and labelling. It's also fun for parents to get involved as it creates a real connection!
Encourage emotional expression
Next, you can support your kids by encouraging emotional expression. No, I don't mean letting them scream, hit or be unsafe. What I mean is, if they are sad, then hold space for them to cry, and if they are angry, support them in expressing it safely through words, drawings, or physical movement.
When we keep emotion in, it can make us physically ill. But by learning simple techniques for healthy expression, we are supporting our children towards health. I love to use art to express emotion. A worry eater or an emotion box are also effective techniques for healthy expression.
Do you have an active kid? Or one that tends to yell or hit? Then use movement for expression. Dance around, do handstands, run and jump out the feelings! Expression doesn't have to be verbal and often, it's better when it isn't.
Once we know how to express our emotions in a healthy way, we often have a stronger ability to solve problems. Why? Because we know how to get the feeling out before it overwhelms us. Not only that, but we can take it one step forward.
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