How to develop the emotional intelligence of children

Parents can teach children to develop their emotional intelligence and channel their emotions. It is important that they learn to control themselves and to be empathetic with others. The emotional education , is part of the formation of the child. The psychologist Silvia Álava has given us an interv

Parents can teach children to develop their emotional intelligence and channel their emotions. It is important that they learn to control themselves and to be empathetic with others. The emotional education, is part of the formation of the child.

The psychologistSilvia Álavahas given us an interview in which she clarifies how parents can know if the child has matured emotionally and how it can promote the development of emotional intelligence in children.

Emotional intelligence in childhood

When can we say that the child has matured emotionally?

There are certain situations that can help us to realize that a child is not emotionally mature. For example, tantrums. They are very typical around 2 years of age, but when a child over two years old continues to take temper tantrums, he is indicating that he has a problem regulating his emotions.

Tips for developing the emotional intelligence of children?

To develop the emotional intelligence of children we have to take into account some basic pillars. First of all it will be learning to identify our own emotions and we also have to learn to identify the emotions that others are experiencing.

We have to learn to control emotions and for that we must find the necessary balance to know what is happening to me, what I am thinking that is making me feel that way to learn to control myself and self-regulate.

We have to learn to express and channel emotions in such a way that it strengthens relationships and not in the opposite way.

Development of emotional capacities according to the child's age

Emotions develop throughout the life cycle, but the sooner we start a lot better, in fact there are studies that tell us that since 2 ½ years ago it is possible Educate the emotions and what is more important than this has influence throughout life.

Children should be taught to think, to think about their emotions, to know how they feel and to detect how others feel, to help them channel emotions, to express them, to regulate them, to favor the importance of communication with parents, with teachers, to also encourage communication with their peers, to also encourage empathy, to help them from childhood to make friends, these are things that will help them and that will help them throughout their lives .

When the children are little, what they have to do is send them very short sentences, and above all act more and talk less. Let's not forget that parents are the main source of children's learning. Then the behavior of the father always has to go in consonance with the behavior of the child.

When they are older, we could start to reason more with them, but never at the time of a tantrum. When they are calm, and when they are relaxed, it will be when we can talk to them and we can influence the importance of speaking, of communicating feelings, of how we can express it.