The Importance of Emotional Intelligence and How to Foster It

Our society provides ways of helping kids identify their emotions like in the popular Disney movie Inside Out. Their light-hearted approach makes you feel a connection and understanding to your feelings while helping you try to make sense of a very complicated thing. What does it mean to be emotionally intelligent and why is it so important for us to understand?

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. It plays a significant role in building healthy relationships, making responsible decisions, and navigating social complexities.

Where do we start?

1 - Self-Awareness

Emotion Identification: Help your child recognize and name their emotions. Use tools like emotion charts to aid in identifying different feelings. 

Reflective Practices: Encourage journaling or drawing to express their emotions and reflect on their experiences.

2 - Self-Regulation

Impulse Control: Teach your child techniques to control their impulses, such as counting to ten or taking a few deep breaths before reacting.

Stress Management: Provide strategies for managing stress, like engaging in hobbies, spending time outdoors, or practicing relaxation techniques. 

3 - Social Skills

Active Listening: Foster the habit of active listening, where your child pays full attention to the speaker and responds thoughtfully. James 1:19 reminds us, “My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”

Conflict Resolution: Teach them how to resolve conflicts peacefully by discussing issues calmly, finding common ground, and compromising when necessary. Matthew 5:9 says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

Understanding Others: Encourage your child to consider others’ perspectives and feelings. Discuss different scenarios and ask how they think others might feel. Ephesians 4:32 advises, “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”

Acts of Kindness: Promote empathy by involving your child in acts of kindness, such as volunteering or helping others in need.

5 - Motivation

Setting Goals: Help your child set realistic and achievable goals. Celebrate their efforts and progress, not just the end results. Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.”

Positive Reinforcement: Use positive reinforcement to encourage perseverance and a growth mindset, helping them understand that effort leads to improvement.

These skills empower children to handle stress, navigate adversity, and build strong, healthy relationships. By grounding our approach in scripture and faith, we can provide our children with the tools they need to thrive in all aspects of life. At Bell Shoals Academy we are committed to supporting your child’s emotional growth, equipping them to become resilient, empathetic, and emotionally intelligent individuals, guided by the wisdom of God’s word.

By: Brittany Clark

Bell Shoals Academy Communications Director