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68 maskmatters.org FALL - V9
From Pre-K to college: An age-appropriate guide
to teaching our children to be more emotionally
intelligentI
ndividuals with high emotional intelligence (EQ)
are happier, healthier and more successful. As
parents, this is essentially what we want for our
kids. So how do we help develop our children’s
emotional intelligence?
“As parents, we have to start developing our
child’s emotional intelligence by first understanding
our own emotions through self-awareness,
and then showing emotional control through
practicing mindfulness, emotional regulation, and
active coping,” says Dr. Shefali Gandhi, a licensedMAKING THE GRADE
- {DID YOU KNOW?}^ Children with high EQ have an easier time paying attention and are more engaged in school.
psychologist in Scottsdale, Arizona. “When we
include the language of emotions in our daily routines
and model emotional awareness, we are laying
the groundwork for our children to have high EQs,
be socially sophisticated, and feel a sense of self-
accomplishment.”
Whether you have a Pre-K, elementary, junior high,
high school or college student, Dr. Gandhi offers an
age-appropriate guide to teaching our children to
be more emotionally intelligent, and modeling this
behavior to them, as well.