Who hasn’t tried to measure their intelligence through an IQ test? Chances are that we’ve all been there, taking a standardized test to try to assess our intelligence.
Hence, when searching for play schools near me, you might consider choosing a daycare centre that nourishes your child’s brain and encourages their rational thinking. In fact, a study by the World Economic Forum has found that analytical thinking is considered the number one core skill.
However, coming in second is creative thinking, followed by resilience, motivation, self-awareness, curiosity and lifelong learning–most of which are core components of emotional intelligence (EI), also known as the emotional quotient (EQ).
Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to understand and handle emotions. Without sufficient development, children may find themselves incapable of fitting in, regulating their emotions or finding their motivation.
Therefore, while it’s important to encourage rational thinking in toddlers, touching upon elements that improve their emotional intelligence is equally imperative.
Thus, we at IPSAA Daycare Centre, the best playschools in Noida, pay special attention to nurturing emotional intelligence in young children, and, today, we will share more information about emotional intelligence and a few strategies to ensure your child’s sound emotional development.
The Core Components of Emotional Intelligence
While the term ‘emotional intelligence’ first appeared back in 1964, its usage and popularity increased in 1995 with the release of Daniel Goleman’s book, which covered the topic. Goleman, an American psychologist, claims that emotional intelligence consists of five components:
Self-Awareness
Self-awareness refers to the ability to recognize and understand one’s own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, values and motives. It also touches upon understanding how each of those influences one’s actions and thoughts.
Self-awareness is one of the first building blocks of good intuition and decision-making. To ensure that your little one grows up to be a leader with the ability to make the right decisions for themselves, it’s crucial to enrol your toddler in play schools near me that make building up their self-awareness a priority.
Promoting emotional expression in a safe and supportive environment and encouraging reflection and problem-solving are two elements that nurture the healthy development of your little one’s self-awareness.
The best playschools in Noida, such as IPSAA Daycare Centre, make it a point to engage children in gentle reflection of their emotions and experiences.
For example, after a disagreement over toys, you may witness teachers approach children to help them label the feelings stemming from the fight. They may help guide them through their emotions in simple language by saying, “Were you feeling angry because you wanted the toy too?”
Then, the teacher may help children discover how to handle similar situations through a follow-up question, such as “What do you think we should do the next time we’re feeling angry?”.
Self-Regulation
How many times have we gone to the store with our children only to duck our heads in embarrassment the moment they start throwing a tantrum?
The good news? Emotional intelligence brings a solution.
Self-regulation is the ability to control emotions, impulses and behaviours, especially in stressful or otherwise challenging situations. This aids children in developing a calmer decision-making process, complete with patience, persistence and adaptability. Moreover, it helps kids bite down on their initial instincts and invites them to act rationally rather than destructively.
When looking for the perfect play schools near me for your little one, keep an eye out for daycare centres whose caregivers model emotional regulation. You may witness teachers calmly handling stressful situations or even taking a moment to calm themselves before doing so.
Through ensuring that your child is around positive role models, who can help them express their emotions safely and rationally, you won’t only be doing yourself a service the next time you go to a grocery store, but you’d also be giving your little one the basic tools they’re going to need in the future.
Motivation
Motivation, by definition, is the ability to use emotional energy to achieve goals, pursue personal growth, and maintain a positive attitude in the face of challenges.
Although it may seem difficult to attain, motivation is worth fighting for, as it harbours focus and perseverance.
Motivation can take many forms, whether it be a passion for learning, helping others or achieving tasks through many hurdles.
Finding playschools in Noida that not only help your little one recognize their motivation but also guide them to find activities that align with their goals may develop their emotional development and allow them to accomplish this feat on their own in the future.
Through setting a goal, maintaining an optimistic outlook and reinforcing positive effort, teachers may set your little one on the path to discovering what drives them and how they can achieve it.
Empathy
Empathy, or the ability to recognize, understand, and share the feelings of others, is an important component of emotional intelligence.
Through ‘putting oneself in another’s shoes’, one can learn vital lessons of compassion and kindness. Approaching others with empathy deepens social connections and permits an understanding of other people’s feelings and an ability to take them into consideration.
Play schools near me must employ caretakers who understand the impact of empathy in young children and how early it can set in them. Through demonstrating empathy by comforting children and being attentive to others’ needs, caretakers plant the seed of empathy in those little ones’ hearts.
Social Skills
A society may only truly be happy if social cohesion is achieved. For social cohesion to bloom, a study has declared three elements imperative:
- Deep social connections.
- A sense of belonging.
- A focus on the common good.
To promote deep social connections, it’s important to manage positive, long-lasting relationships, communicate effectively, especially to resolve conflict, and work well with others. In short, it’s crucial to develop one’s social skills, which improve the ability to build up all three.
At IPSAA Centre, the best playschools in Noida, not only will children foster friendships with other kids but also with their caretakers through our carefully crafted daily schedule.
Benefits of Early Emotional Intelligence Development
We’ve discussed a few benefits relating to the core components of emotional intelligence, which playschools in Noida must nurture.
However, we’ve yet to cover further implications and effects of early emotional intelligence development later in life. Thus, the following will discuss what a higher emotional intelligence in children may lead to:
- Academic Success: Since emotional intelligence allows better management of stress, higher motivation and persistence, and better collaboration with classmates, higher emotional intelligence often translates into a better academic performance. In fact, a studyon BMC Psychology has found a high correlation between emotional intelligence and academic success.
- Social Well-being: Deep, healthy and long-lasting friendships are easier to develop for children with high emotional intelligence. This is due to the early development of empathy and social skills, which gives them the opportunity to connect with their peers on a deeper level as well as work with them to achieve great results.
- Conflict Resolution: Through the careful nurturing of emotional intelligence, your little one will get their hands on the tools necessary to regulate their emotions, even when the stakes are high and big feelings are on the rise. By being self-aware of their emotions and regulating them, children will be better equipped to resolve conflicts in peaceful, constructive ways.
- Mental Health: Being able to understand and manage emotions can help reduce anxiety, depression, and frustration, leading to better overall mental health.
Practical Strategies for Building Emotional Intelligence in Young Children
When searching for play schools near me, you may be inclined to look for the best daycare centres to develop emotional intelligence in your young children. While your choice of daycare centre is critical, you may also choose to employ the following strategies to build your little one’s emotional intelligence at home as well:
- Model Emotional Awareness: Since you’re your child’s number one role model, try to express your emotions in healthy ways. Slowly but surely, they will learn by watching you.
- Teach Emotional Vocabulary: When your child is feeling frustrated, sad, happy or energetic, you may label or articulate their emotions for them, which will expand their emotional vocabulary and allow them to understand what exactly they’re feeling.
- Create a Safe Emotional Environment: Foster an environment where children feel safe to express their emotions without judgment.
- Practice Empathy: Teach children to recognize and validate the emotions of others by comforting them and others when they need it, for example.
- Use Positive Reinforcement: Like all positive behaviours, emotionally intelligent behaviour must be reinforced with praise and encouragement as well. This helps children understand that they’re on the right track and encourages them to stay on that path.
IPSAA’s Role in Developing Emotional Intelligence
IPSAA Daycare Centre’s philosophy has always held your child’s emotional, physical, social and cognitive development at heart. We’ve incorporated innovative methods to encourage a higher emotional intelligence in your little one, such as:
- Interactive storytelling and role-playing.
- Mindfulness exercises.
- Encouraging self-expression through art and creativity.
- Group activities that promote teamwork and empathy.
IPSAA Centre, the best playschools in Noida, encourage you to check out our programmes and blogs to learn more about us and our philosophy.
Help us stop your play schools near me hunt. Contact us today. Let’s nurture your little one’s emotional intelligence and watch them grow into a wonderful leader!