Your Child’s Emotional Awareness: Awaken the Giant or Let Sleeping Dogs Lie?

When recruiting for our student volunteer program, I've literally had parents say they don't want to discuss their kid's emotional awareness because it may trigger them. Would you use the same argument about wanting to discuss sex, drugs or alcohol, citing that bringing it up will spark their curiosity and want them to explore it for themselves? Much has been said about the benefits of raising emotionally intelligent children. Some view emotional intelligence (EI) as the key to success in life, while others believe that EI is a prerequisite for happiness and inner peace. Regardless of your perspective, it is hard to deny the importance of teaching our children how to be emotionally aware and responsive. But what does this look like in practice? And is there a point at which we should let our children "figure things out" on their own? This blog post will explore some of these questions to guide parents on how to help their children develop into emotionally healthy adults.

What is Emotional Awareness?

Emotional awareness is the ability to understand and label your own emotions. It's an essential part of emotional intelligence, which is the ability to regulate your emotions, respond effectively to emotions in others, and create positive relationships. While emotional intelligence is vital for people of all ages, children must develop emotional awareness early. Children who are emotionally aware are better able to cope with stress, solve problems, and form healthier relationships. They're also more likely to succeed in school and their future careers. With emotional intelligence being such an important life skill, we must help our children develop emotional awareness from an early age. There are many ways to do this, such as modelling healthy emotional behaviours, teaching emotional vocabulary, and encouraging emotional expression. By helping our children develop emotional awareness, we're setting them up for a lifetime of success.

Making Your Child More Emotionally Aware

As parents, we want our children to be happy and successful. A big part of this is teaching them emotional intelligence: the ability to understand and regulate their emotions. However, emotional intelligence isn't something that can be taught overnight. It's a gradual process that requires time, patience, and guidance. Here are some things you can do to help your child become more emotionally aware:

• Encourage them to express their feelings. It's important for children to feel comfortable expressing their emotions. They should know it's okay to sometimes feel sad, angry, or scared.

• Teach them how to identify their emotional triggers. Help your child understand what sets off their emotions. This might be things like a specific person, place, or situation. Once they know their triggers, they can start to avoid or manage them better.

• Model emotional intelligence yourself. Children learn best by example. So modelling emotional intelligence in your own life is a great way to encourage your child to do the same. This means being aware of your own emotions and healthily handling them.

The Benefits of Having an Emotionally Aware Child

Children are like sponges, absorbing information from the world around them. As they grow and develop their own sense of self, they need to learn how to regulate their emotions. Children who are emotionally aware are better able to understand and express their feelings, setting them up for success in school and life.

Children who are emotionally aware are better able to relate to others. They can communicate their needs and wants and are more likely to empathize with others. Emotionally aware children are also less likely to engage in harmful coping mechanisms, such as drug use or aggression.

There are some ways that parents can encourage their children to be emotionally aware. One is to model emotional intelligence themselves. Another is to provide opportunities for expression, such as through art or journaling. And finally, it's essential to listen to your child and validate their feelings. Parents can help their children grow into emotionally healthy adults by taking these steps.

What if Your Child isn't Developing Emotional Awareness?

If you feel your child is not developing emotional awareness at the rate they should be, it is crucial to take proactive steps to encourage their growth. One way to do this is to provide opportunities to practice emotionally charged situations in a safe and supportive environment. This could involve role-playing with toys or puppets or acting out story scenes. Talking about emotions openly with your child and modelling emotionally healthy behaviour is also essential. These steps can help your child develop the emotional awareness they need to thrive. Alternatively, many of us were taught to suppress our feelings and emotions growing up. We may not be the best candidates to instill emotional awareness in our kids. Programs like How Are You Feeling are great teaching aids for kids and parents.

Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie When it Comes to Emotions?

A child's emotional development is crucial to their overall well-being and success. Yet, too often, parents choose to ignore signs that their child may be struggling emotionally. This can have devastating consequences. Studies have shown that emotional needs not met in childhood can lead to problems later in life, such as mental illness, addiction, violence, and even suicide. So, while it may be easier to pretend everything is fine, addressing your child's emotional needs early on is essential. You can help your child develop into a happy, healthy adult with love and support.

Conclusion

We are so proud of our volunteer students and the work they have put in to increase their emotional awareness. They have shown that they can face any emotional challenge head-on when armed with the proper tools. If you would like to help your child build confidence and learn how to deal with difficult emotions, please consider enrolling them in our upcoming courses. Our team is passionate about helping children grow into emotionally healthy adults, and we hope to see you soon!