Developing Emotional Intelligence with Young Children

Description

Emotional intelligence is the ability to manage, express and value our emotional responses in ways that are productive for ourselves and for the relationships we develop with others. Therefore, helping young children begin this lifelong process of developing emotional intelligence is important.

In this series of three classes, children will learn that whether it's excitement, disappointment, joy or anxiety, our emotions -- whatever they are -- are normal AND that there are practical strategies that they can use to help manage strong emotions so that they feel better and more in control.

In this series of classes, children will learn that identifying emotions, controlling them through breathing techniques and creating a plan of positive action can help manage strong feelings. Each class has a focus strategy -- belly breathing, positive self-talk and identifying strong feelings -- yet the concepts in each relate to one another and reinforce the overall goal of the series: developing a strong set of skills that can be used to manage our emotions and develop strong interpersonal relationships.

Each session will feature a song that helps children understand the focus strategy. After discussing the strategy in the context of the song, I will read a story where the main character uses the focal strategy in a manner that young children can understand. Children will then discuss how the main character used the focal strategy with both me and other students in the session and we will all practice the strategy and/ or discuss with one another how we have used the strategy ourselves in our own lives.

As a kindergarten teacher of 16 years, I have found that children benefit greatly from developing a sense of efficacy when it comes to emotional self-regulation, and song, story, discussion and practice are the tools to bring this efficacy to life. Join me!