7 ways to develop your child’s emotional intelligence
To ensure that your child grows up as a well-rounded individual, doctors recommend harnessing a child’s emotional intelligence.
MANILA, Philippines — Even thousands of years ago, thinkers with presumably high intelligence like Plato acknowledged that IQ is not enough.
When the Greek philosopher said that “All learning has an emotional base,” he was emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence to succeed in life.
“IQ gets you the job, but you need EQ (emotional quotient) for promotion,” developmental and behavioural paediatrician Dr. Lourdes Bernadette Sumpaico-Tanchanco recently said during the introduction of milk fat globule membrane in the country.
Unlike IQ that is measurable and can be inborn, a person is not born with emotional intelligence, said the doctor.
“But it can be taught when a child is still young,” she asserted.
To ensure that your child grows up as a well-rounded individual, the doctor recommended harnessing a child’s EI through the following:
- Establish trust by satisfying a child’s emotional needs.
- Teach your child to label his emotions as either happiness or sadness, among others. For kids with special needs, use faces to label emotions.
- Talk about positive and negative behaviors with your child.
- Learn to say "no" without being aggressive.
- Emphasize responsibility and independence, so they will learn to take care of themselves and others.
- Teach your child to emphatize with his fellowman as early as possible.
- Encourage creativity so your children will know how to handle problems.
According to Dr. Aurorita Roldan, University of the Philippines College of Home Economics dean and professor on family life and child development, “EQ determines majority of our daily actions, so it is responsible for 80 percent of the success in our lives."
