How To Support Emotional Development
EQ (emotional quotient) is thought to be as, or even more important than IQ (intelligence quotient) as a predictor of success in life5. EQ is the measure of a person’s emotional intelligence (EI). This is the ability to identify, understand, and manage your own and others’ emotions. High EQ skills help to empower your child with qualities like calmness, patience, empathy, insightfulness, concentration, and confidence. You too can nurture your child’s emotional development at home by following these simple steps6:
- Be aware of your child’s emotions: By understanding why your toddler is throwing a tantrum, you can prevent or manage these outbursts better.
- Bond with your child when they’re going through strong emotions: Celebrate your child’s happiness and comfort them when they’re sad, solidifying your bond and teaching your child that they can feel safe expressing their feelings to you.
- Validate your child’s feelings: Don’t ignore your child’s emotions. Instead, listen to the expression of what they’re feeling and show them that you understand and care. Label those feelings at the same time so that your child learns what they are and how they’re supposed to feel.
- Help your child problem-solve: Frustration can lead to angry outbursts in a child. Teach them how to find solutions to these issues and avoid meltdowns.
How To Support Social Development
When confined at home during the pandemic, children are naturally deprived of their social connections like school friends, neighbors, and cousins. You can make use of technology to enable these connections and support your child’s social development in the process.
- Dedicate time for your child to communicate with loved ones, like grandparents, cousins, and friends. This could be through a video call or a regular phone call.
- Help your child communicate with friends and family the old-fashioned way – through writing letters and cards. These activities also help develop your child’s literacy and writing skills. If your child cannot write yet, then they could create paintings or art and crafts which you could mail to loved ones.
Learn more about developing a child’s EQ here.
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