Emotional Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence

or

EQ

The foundation for EQ starts at birth.

· Newborns- When his eyes follow you, you know he’s engaged. That you tune in to him and he tunes in to you giving him a secure bases to build on.

· Two to six months- Tickles, grins and other pleasurable interactions woo your baby into feeling trust and intimacy.

· Four to ten months- Two-way communication through simple imitative games through which they learn emotional signaling. You wave and he waves back. This is also the basis for intellectual skills such as cause and effect and it also marks the beginning of social interactions.

· Ten to 18 months- As interaction get purposeful, a sense of self begins to emerge. He might point out to the refrigerator to show you that he wants juice. The more you point out the various objects, the better for your child’s understanding.

· Eighteen to thirty months- Toddlers act out emotions in play. When you label feelings for him, he can connect them to his own behaviour.

· Three years plus- Children are better able to make the link between feelings and ideas when ideas and concepts are embedded in an emotional context. Instead of “show me the blue car,” try, “which colour car do you like better, red or blue.”

· As the child grows up, it’s important to include emotional awareness alongside his growing sense of physical and intellectual competence.