6 Ways to Help Students Develop Emotional Intelligence
6 Ways to Help Students Develop Emotional Intelligence
In this article, we explore why children should build emotional intelligence while exploring a handful of methods you can implement to help your students develop these crucial skills.
What is emotional intelligence?
In a stunning LinkedIn post, well-known social-emotional researcher Daniel Goleman reported that emotional intelligence is the biggest predictor of future financial success. He states that emotional intelligence (EQ or EI for short) is more crucial than IQ or alma mater when determining workplace advancement and financial stability.
His statements are a result of a large study involving 1,000 individuals in New Zealand who underwent testing for EQ as children, then again in their 30s. The study found that children who exhibited higher emotional intelligence as children ranked higher in social circles.
With results like that, it’s hard to deny the importance of emotional intelligence.
Any child can become an emotional Einstein with a bit of guidance and practice. In this article, we explore why children should build emotional intelligence while exploring a handful of methods you can implement to help your students develop these crucial skills.
Invest in your school’s emotional education capabilities by partnering with Friendzy. Our social and emotional character development (SEL) program helps educators provide the most engaging emotional education to set students up for success long after they leave the classroom. Get started today by scheduling a live demo.
Why Children Should Build Emotional Intelligence
Think back to some of the students who have faced challenges in your classroom.. These students may have demonstrated a tendency towards anger, may have engaged in bullying behavior towards their peers, or perhaps created classroom disruptions. However, behind this tough exterior are children who lack the coping skills needed to manage their emotions.
Emotional intelligence doesn’t just limit disruptions in the classroom. Teaching kids about emotional self-management and self-regulation can have significant benefits:
Better relationships – Children are able to make and keep friends easier when they can manage their emotions to align with various social contexts. Additionally, they will feel less intimidated when interacting with new people.
Stronger academic performance – Challenging subjects won’t cause students to give up as easily. They will be more likely to ask for help when they struggle with schoolwork or think outside the box and look for creative answers.
Fewer tantrums – Students will understand the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behavior. When emotional outbursts do occur, they will be more likely to transition to more productive activities.
Positive growth mindsets – Children become curious about what’s possible when emotions no longer stand in the way.
Social and emotional (SEL) programs work with educators to empower students to recognize and regulate their own emotions. Friendzy’s program is a perfect partner for your school with teacher training and workbooks that help you teach emotional intelligence to your students. Learn more about our SEL program and see the difference you can make!
6 Ways to Help Students Develop Emotional Intelligence
Developing emotional intelligence takes time and dedication. While you can’t assign problem sets to strengthen emotional intelligence, you can implement these simple methods to help students handle their feelings and grow their self-confidence.
Be aware of your students’ emotions.
A considerable stressor in children is the anxiety produced by negative self-talk. This negative self-talk stems from different emotions, such as frustration, sadness, isolation, and jealousy. These feelings show up in facial expressions, body language, and word choice.
You can foster emotional intelligence by recognizing when students display the emotions that lead to negative self-talk. Children frequently struggle to recognize when these emotions surface; however, by cultivating your own awareness, you can assist them in identifying shifts and initiating effective problem-solving or coping strategies.
2. Listen and validate your students’ feelings.
When emotions run hot, it’s essential to allow students time to calm down and approach the situation with a rational mindset. A highly effective approach for facilitating open communication and enabling children to express themselves is to actively listen to their emotions and acknowledge their validity.
If a student has a meltdown, give them space and show them that you understand their emotional outburst. As they calm down, walk your student through deep breathing exercises to help them cope with their own feelings.
Try Friendzy’s Breath In, Breath Out Exercise to promote peace, calm, and an overall sense of well-being
3. Help students label their emotions.
Emotionally intelligent children are able to label and comprehend the emotions they feel. By using the previous strategy of listening and validating feelings, you can help young children understand the emotions they experience, giving them a way to interact with them in a healthy way. Fostering emotional self-awareness among students is instrumental in promoting the development of their self-esteem, as it alleviates the anxiety associated with managing intense emotions. Check out our Matching Emotions freebie and help teach young children how to identify the emotions they encounter!
4. Discuss challenges.
Life presents numerous challenges, and it is crucial for children to understand this truth early on, as it empowers them to develop effective strategies for overcoming these obstacles.
One effective approach is to incorporate social-emotional learning into their education. This involves engaging in dramatic-play activities and scenario based questions that simulate various challenges, such as feeling unheard, dealing with frustrating situations, or grappling with difficult assignments.
By incorporating these experiences into their learning, children can acquire valuable skills to navigate real-life challenges with confidence and resilience.
In addition, by discussing these situations in a safe environment, you arm them with the social skills to handle anything, even the ever evolving challenges students face on social media.
Make discussions easier for students with Friendzy’s Better Together Discussion Questions, these questions will facilitate openness and relationship building!
5. Brainstorm strategies for problem-solving.
Effective problem-solving contributes to robust mental health and overall positive well-being. Teaching students how to brainstorm creative solutions to challenges encourages them to persevere despite initial failures while fostering emotional regulation.
Be sure to reinforce that unhealthy behaviors are inappropriate and that healthy expressions of emotions can have new and exciting results. These new outcomes offer a pathway to strengthen your student’s emotional skills even further.
Looking for a creative way to introduce problem-solving to your students? Check out this list of problem-solving activities for your classroom.
6. Help them to help others.
Helping others provides students with the opportunity to cultivate a stronger sense of empathy. Encourage your students to help others, whether it’s a new student or one with special needs. They will build a sense of responsibility and can learn valuable lessons about how to treat others.
A child's emotional intelligence is greatly influenced by the environment they are surrounded by. One effective way to create a positive environment is by promoting a culture of helping others among students.
Encouraging students to engage in volunteer work and service projects not only benefits those in need but also nurtures their own emotional well-being. As an educator, you can take the initiative to organize a field trip for your class, providing them with an opportunity to contribute to a good cause and become compassionate caregivers in a broader context, ultimately making a positive impact on the world around them.
Strengthen Your Students’ Emotional Intelligence with Friendzy
Emotional intelligence is invaluable. As the world becomes more complex and unique challenges await our young ones, giving them all the tools they need to navigate their emotions will prove to be the difference between success and the alternative.
By implementing strategies, like listening to feelings or discussing challenges, you can introduce, teach, and build the habits that translate into self-control and emotional fortitude. Moreover, these strategies will not detract from your lesson plans; instead, they will enhance their effectiveness by seamlessly incorporating concepts into virtually any subject matter.
Give yourself a social-emotional learning head start with Friendzy’s social and emotional character development (SEL) program. Our program is perfect for educators looking to establish a productive learning environment while also setting students up for future success. Connect with us today to learn more and get started on your SEL journey!