Children develop different forms of intelligence throughout their school years. Emotional intelligence will play an important role in their future, which is why it is important for them to learn how to manage their own feelings and understand the feelings of others from an early age. Activities that develop emotional intelligence help strengthen children’s abilities and establish healthy emotional habits. What is emotional intelligence in children? Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise and manage our own emotions and those of others. Social skills are rooted in values linked to empathy. Through emotional intelligence, children learn to recognise how other people feel and respond appropriately. Managing our own feelings is equally important. Emotional intelligence helps children make emotions a healthy part of their personality. The first years of education are very important for emotional learning. Pupils learn to understand themselves, regulate their feelings, control emotional impulses and manage stress and anxiety. The early stages of education are key to acquiring and practising these skills, and emotional intelligence activities help reinforce this learning. Activities to develop emotional intelligence These are some activities you can do at home to help children develop emotional intelligence. Emotion dictionary Giving emotions a name helps children identify them. An emotion dictionary includes the different feelings we may experience in different situations. To create one, it is helpful to make a list and add photographs or images connected with each feeling. The aim is for children to have a list of emotions they may feel and be able to associate them with specific facial expressions and body language. Drawing emotions Drawing emotions is a proactive way to engage with our own feelings. Through simple drawings, children can represent emotions linked to a set of cards. A mirror can also be used so they can express the emotion before drawing it, while observing their own expression. Situation-emotion For this activity, you will need to prepare a set of cards. Half of the cards show emotions, while the other half describe situations that may prompt an emotional response. The aim is for children to learn how to connect certain situations with the responses they may produce. You can be creative when making these cards, including all kinds of situations children may encounter in their daily lives. Emotional journal Another activity for developing emotional intelligence is an emotion journal. Expressive writing helps us identify our emotions and avoid suppressing them. For children, a journal focused on emotions not only helps them reflect on their day, it also makes them more aware of how they have responded to everyday emotional situations.
