Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, manage, and express one's emotions in a healthy and constructive way. It's a crucial skill that impacts a child's self-esteem, relationships, and overall well-being.
As parents, we can encourage emotional intelligence by validating our child's emotions. Instead of dismissing their feelings, acknowledge them. Let your child know that it's okay to feel what they're feeling.
For example, Carol was recently at a homeschooling movie day event with her granddaughter and a group of other homeschoolers. Some of the scenes were emotional invoking strong feelings for some of the children. The children already had an emotional connection to this movie, as they had previously read The Wild Robot together. There were tears shed. All the parents were very supportive allowing the children to continue watching the movie and expressing their feelings. This is how they learn, process, and become in touch with their emotions.
