Those simple single syllable emotion words are the first and easiest for young children to learn. Then, as they grow, it is time for parents, educators and caregivers to help them move beyond sad, mad and glad…

A Different Curriculum

When kids come home with A’s and B’s in reading writing and math, parents feel a sense of security that their children are building the skills that will help them succeed in life. Then there is a whole set of different and important skills, which help our kids get smarter about the variety of emotions they feel and encounter on a daily basis.

Understanding one’s own emotions can make the difference between a physical fight and a deep breath. Understanding in- the-moment emotions of others is an invaluable social skill. For children and adults with Asperger Syndrome and Autism, navigating the territory of emotions is a particularly puzzling challenge.

Here are a few solid reasons to create your own emotional intelligence curriculum.

• Children learn to feel comfortable with expressing fears, guilt or feelings of isolation, when it is natural to discuss emotions with their trusted adults. Many kids keep quiet about toxic feelings that build up and need to be expressed to those adults.
• When we teach our challenging loved ones to appropriately handle an emotional experience, for example anger, they are equipped with positive options to replace the knee jerk impulses that lead to negativity and confrontation. An emotionally tuned in child can say “I feel like I am going to burst into a rage, but I know there are people I can go talk to right away.”
• Self-confidence builds and helps to pave the way for kids to use their talents and stretch their abilities when they have a sense of control about being able to handle an emotional situation.

Take Action: Build a Feelings Vocabulary
Read More »