As a patent , we all want our kids to be as happy and successful as they can possibly be. We also want them to be good human beings.
So it is very important to develop your child’s EQ from a young age. Here are a few ways you can do this:
1. Teach her how to identify her feelings from an early age
A toddler throwing a tantrum is an ideal opportunity to teach her about her emotions. Get your child tell you what she is feeling as opposed what she wants; is she feeling sad or angry?
Likewise, do this in happy moments too. Your child will learn to identify her different emotions, and in time, verbalise and deal with them.
2. Always show empathy
Empathising doesn’t mean agreeing. Once you teach your child to talk about how she is feeling, she will (in true kid-style) tell you how she is feeling all the time! Handle this by acknowledging her feelings, and if you can’t agree to what she wants, explain why.
3. Teach her problem solving
For instance, if your child comes crying to tell you she’s feeling angry that her brother has torn her artwork, use the opportunity to show her how to deal with the issue.
Praise her for not yelling at her brother. Thank her for telling you about the issue and for sharing her feelings with you.
Give her options on how she can fix the problem; suggest that both of you paste the picture back together, or that you can help her create something new.
This will show her that there’s always a solution to a problem. Follow through with the solution she chooses.
4. Teach her to be sensitive to others
This is a follow-up from the previous tip. Your child will emulate the way you show compassion towards her. So teach her to extend the same principle towards others.
Very soon, you will see your child asking a friend why she is sad and offering to cheer her up. As a result, your child will learn how to be a good friend too.
5. Lead by example through managing your own feelings
Dealing with our feelings appropriately presents yet another EQ teaching opportunity for your child. For instance, if your child breaks something you love, you might flare up quickly.
Take a minute to get your temper in check, then communicate how you are feeling and discuss what the consequences will be. This way, she will learn how to deal with similar future situations, and that there are repercussions to her actions.
