Every parent hopes that their child will grow up to be a smart person. However, most parents tend to only prioritize the academic value of the child. Without realizing it, it makes children feel pressured and children will find it difficult to develop their interests or talents.
For this reason, parents also need to teach and cultivate children's emotional intelligence as early as possible. The goal, so that later emotional intelligence (EQ) is also balanced with IQ.
Here are ways that parents should pay attention to to cultivate emotional intelligence in children from an early age. Come on, see!
Always Ask Children's Feelings
Communication is the main key to train children to recognize emotions. Therefore, it is important for every parent to often ask how the child is feeling. For example, asking the child's feelings when he wakes up, the child's activities while studying at school, when the child is about to go to bed, and so on.
In addition, if the child feels negative emotions such as anger or disappointment, teach the child to relieve or divert his emotions with positive things. For example, invites children to play, invites children to read books, or hugs them.
Be a Good Example
To train and familiarize children with good behavior, start with small things that can be done at home. Parents can set an example through daily habits when asking for help to their children.
For example, when parents want to ask their children for help, make it a habit to say the word "please", and don't forget to say "thank you" after getting help. If parents make mistakes, they should say "sorry" to the child.
Always remind your child to say the same thing when interacting with other people. If it is often applied since childhood, it will become a good habit when the child grows up.
Teach Empathy
Great empathy can help children care more about others and make it easier for children to relate well to their environment in the future. Parents can build empathy in their children by teaching them to be sensitive to the feelings of others.
For example, when a child tells a story about a friend who has lost a toy. Ask the child "what if you lose the toy?" and “are you willing to lend your toy to your friend?” then watch the reaction. Children will have empathy, of course, if they are willing to lend toys to their friends.
Don't Limit Children's Creativity
Encourage any kind of artistic or visual interest in the child. It is very important to let the child out of the comfort zone, increasing the creativity and imagination of the child.
If the child shows his work, praise it by saying sentences like "wow, that's great". Or ask the child about the process of making it, why he chose that color and so on. It aims to make it easier for children to explore their emotions when sharing ideas about their work.