For kids to succeed in life, it’s important to work on their intelligence. However, just reading books or gaining academic knowledge which translates to intelligence quotient (IQ), is not the only way to great success. A good leader has an equally high Emotional Intelligence also known as Emotional Quotient (EQ).
The ability to understand and identify your feelings and emotions and to regulate them and empathize with others’ feelings is defined as an Emotional Quotient.
Here are a few ways in which you can help your child increase their EQ.
Set a good example
Before trying to help your child, you should try to work on building your EQ. Your EQ status will aid your child’s growth too. Kids are quite the followers, they observe how to react to situations and learn from them. When they see how honestly you share your feelings, this will help them understand the importance of being honest about their feelings. They will understand that other people have feelings too.
Know your child
Every child is different and the state of their mental development depends a lot on their age. Try to get in their shoes and validate their feelings. Bond with your kids and tell them about your day and ask them about theirs. This will help you build a good relationship with your baby and you will know how to talk and explain things to them.
Give them alternatives
Kids love to test their parents’ limits and say no to everything that they say. To make them feel empowered. If there is something that they want to do and you cannot allow them, think of an alternative. For example, if you have a strong-willed child not wanting to leave the park even at 7 pm, give them an alternative of 10 minutes of screen time. Choose your battles wisely with your kids.
Avoid harsh words
A tantrum is a normal developmental milestone in a kid’s life. It’s easy to get annoyed when your kids are throwing a tantrum, but take a step back and take a moment before you react. Tantrums are normal and will keep happening, wire your brain to not respond with negativity or harsh words.
Help them understand their emotions
Kids often are not familiar with the labels of their feelings. This confuses them and adds to their frustration. Offer a safe space to them and help them understand their feelings. Ask them, “Are you angry?”, “Are you not willing to share your toys?”, “Are you scared?” This will help them navigate their feelings and understand their emotions.
Respect their feelings
As a process of developing your child’s EQ, you have to respect their opinion when they say, “No”. It’s difficult but it needs to be done. It helps them understand that their opinion is valued. When they say no try to ask them what they would like to do instead.
We hope these tips help you regulate your child’s emotions and understand your child better.
Follow @malinisgirltribe on Instagram for more content like this and download the Girl Tribe by MissMalini App to join our Mommy Life community.