Steps to: Emotional Wellbeing Success

Steps to Emotional Intelligence

Emotions are complex psychological and physiological responses that help us

adapt to and navigate our environment. We need to acknowledge that emotions

(expression, awareness and understanding) are fundamental aspects of

children's and adolescents' development. Emotions help people navigate

challenges, make decisions, and build social connections. As teachers and

parents, understanding the significance of emotions is crucial in supporting

children's emotional growth. Supporting young people to build emotional

intelligence is possibly one of the most important things we can do to support

long term wellbeing outcomes and socio-emotional development.

What is the purpose of emotions?

Emotions are at the heart of human experience and interaction; they help us

make sense of the world around us and inform our thoughts and behaviours.

They contribute to multiple areas, from relationships to survival. Emotions

provide us with information about situations, indicating feelings of fear or worry

in moments of danger, excitement and elation in moments of joy, or a sense of

motivation when achieving our goals. Emotions also provide understanding of

our needs and values, which informs our responses or directional path when

making decisions or engaging in activities. They aid us to convey our feelings

and intentions to others, acting as a facet of communication. Lastly, Emotions

contribute to creating meaningful connections with humans, building

relationships and strengthening bonds with people who are important to us.

Without emotion, life would feel devoid of meaning, motivation, and connection.

"Good" and "bad" emotions

It is important not to label emotions as "good" or "bad", emotions are just

emotions. All emotions (even the ones we may label as "negative") serve

valuable purposes in our lives -they give us information and have a functional

role. By avoiding judgment, we can create a safe space for young people to

express their emotions openly and develop emotional intelligence.

Understanding the function of emotion helps us support their emotional growth

and reduces shame, embarrassment or guilt about feeling certain emotions.

Encouraging open communication about feelings fosters a healthy emotional

environment in the classroom, allowing children to process their emotions

constructively.

Emotional Wellbeing Success

 Steps to: Emotional Wellbeing Success

Steps to Emotional Intelligence

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is characterised by the ability to be aware of and

understand both your own and other people's emotions. It involves being able

to differentiate between various emotions and use this knowledge to guide

your thoughts and behaviors. When individuals have emotional intelligence

skills, they are better equipped to regulate their own emotions, as well as

helping others regulate.

Emotional intelligence consists of five components. Self-awareness of your

own emotions and how they impact thoughts and behaviours. Self-regulation of

your emotions, balancing emotion and logic. Motivation to reach personal

value-based goals by maintaining emotional balance. Empathy when sharing in

the emotions of others. And social skills that are built and maintained through

effective communication, conflict resolution, and collaboration.

Why is emotional intelligence important for children and adolescents?

Supporting the development of emotional intelligence in children and

adolescents offers multiple benefits. Firstly, self-awareness enables them to

understand and support themselves during emotional experiences, fostering

resilience and confidence in managing challenges. Secondly, emotional

intelligence enhances social skills, promoting effective communication,

empathy, and conflict resolution. This facilitates positive relationships and

collaboration within both peer and student-teacher relationships. Lastly,

improved emotional regulation can result in improved academic performance

by helping students navigate learning environments, manage study stress,

remaining regulated and focused when learning new/challenging content,

persist through challenges, and think calmly and critically to problem solve and

make informed decisions.

Teachers have a crucial role in educating students about emotional

intelligence; guiding them to gain emotional awareness tools, build positive

relationships, utilize communication skills, and implement beneficial strategies

in moments of distress. As students build on their emotional intelligence they

become increasingly equipped to navigate challenges and complexities that

occur both within the school gates and their wider community.

Emotional Wellbeing Success

 Steps to: Emotional Wellbeing Success

Steps to Emotional Intelligence

How do we encourage emotional intelligence in students?

There are multiple ways to teach and encourage emotional intelligence to

students both on an environmental and individual level.

1 - Validation
Encourage open communication and active listening, where students can feel

safe and express their emotions without judgment. Utilize validation skills to

promote discussion of all feelings, for example “I can see you felt angry when

"X" happened, that must have been frustrating”, “it's hard when people don’t

want to play with us, I’d be sad too”. Listen and make sense of the emotion - put

a pause problem solving.

2 - Model emotional intelligence:

Teachers are in the prime position to demonstrate skills for students to

observe and learn from. Demonstrate emotional awareness and intelligence

actively and openly, communicate and describe emotions that are experienced

in the moment, and utilise teaching tools such as personal stories where

emotions were felt, behaviours were displayed, and problem-solving was done.

3 - Integrate emotional learning into the classroom environment:

Teach students about different emotions, how these may feel in the body and

be demonstrated in behaviours, and effective communication strategies. This

can be done through the introduction of an emotion wheel or mood meters -

play "emotion bingo" or "emotion charades" to build awareness of what

emotions look and feel like personally and in others.

4 - Encourage self-reflection and communication:

Using an emotion wheel or list to encourage students to show which emotion

they are feeling. Use open ended questions to increase emotional

communication such as, “how am/was I feeling”, “how can I describe this

feeling”, “what can I do to help myself right now”. These can be used in general

practice, or reflection following a distressing situation.

5 - Multimedia format:
Some students learn best by listening, some by doing, and some by seeing. Try

to utilize different resources for students to gain understanding of emotion

regulation, and to practice it daily. This can be through visual posters and

resources, videos, and worksheets.

Emotional Wellbeing Success