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What Is Your Kiddo's EI?
Thursday, December 30, 2010 by Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Chances are that from the moment you find out you are expecting, you see the world differently. It's not just about you; it's about this little one who is going to rock your world.
You want to give them the world. You want to do everything and anything you can to support their development.
Then, they are born.
And, they are a genius. They are amazing. You watch every move they make and every breath they take (yes, I'm a fan of Sting).
You read them books. You sing them songs. You play with them.
You do everything you can do to make them *smart.*
My question, is what is SMART?
Is it meeting every developmental milestone, perhaps ahead of "schedule?"
Is it how they will perform on a standardized test when they reach grade school?
The more I think about how SMART I want my child to be, the more I think of the value of emotional intelligence (EI: "the ability to perceive, control, and evaluate emotions," also defined as the ability to get along with others).
Think about the people around you and the impact they make through their emotional expressions.
They can make or break a day through their interactions.
So, how do you make an emotionally intelligent child?
Can you make an emotionally intelligent child or are some children simply born able to get along with others more easily?
Some say "yes," while others say "no."
I'm not sure what my vote is.
I do know, teaching our young children to recognize and express their emotions is vital to their health and well-being.
Give them words to describe their feelings ("I understand that you are sad.").
Give them strategies to cope ("When I am mad, I squish this pillow.").
Set an example.
Just think what a nicer world it would be if there were more emotionally intelligent folks around.
Personally, I think it would be a much kinder world.
What's your EI?
