Building EQ Can Be Easy
Can emotional intelligence (EQ) be learned? A great deal of research supports the finding that not only can emotional intelligence be learned, a person who is motivated to build their EQ can do so throughout their lifetime.
In a recent interview on CBS8 News , the founders of ParentingEQ provided some quick and easy suggestions for building the foundation of emotional intelligence with your children. While most of us have been busy wearing many hats the last 12 months, 10 minutes a day focused on EQ can help reduce stress and bring peace into our homes.
Get started by establishing a time to do a regular feelings check-in with your child. Perhaps it’s a few minutes during breakfast or dinner time. A check-in is not a time to problem-solve, but a time to listen and validate their feelings. Replace “Why don’t you try….” with “It sounds like you are feeling….”. By simply talking about their feelings in a safe space, they will likely feel less worry and stress.
Another idea is to take 5 minutes a day for a purposeful pause with your child. During this time, be totally present and model deep breathing or other relaxation techniques. Maybe turn on some peaceful music, or close your eyes and lie on the floor like a starfish.
Try our relaxation starfish worksheet to get started!