How Parents can Encourage Emotional Intelligence and Empathy in Their Children

Empathy is sometimes mistakenly believe as something that is naturally inherited when we are born but the fact is that it is a skill that can be taught. There are some ways parents can try teaching empathy and boost their emotional intelligence.

1.      Make sure your child’s own emotional needs are met. Before a child can express empathy to somebody it is a must that his own emotional needs are first met. That emotional support comes from his parents and other people.

2.      Teach your child how to cope with negative emotions. It’s a normal feeling for kids and even adults to experience negative emotions such as anger and jealousy. But for a child who is taught on handling these feelings in a positive way by sympathetic parents likely to have strong emotional intelligence and empathy.

3.      Ask, “How would you feel?” Kids are geared toward empathy. Even a child who sees someone who is in emotional distress is likely to show sympathy by trying to comfort the person. At the same time they are also self-centered beings so if they committed a mistake by hurting somebody either their brother or sister or friend, as parents you need to explain that such behavior can hurt the person emotionally and physically. Try asking him the questions like, “How would you feel if they will do the same to you?” It will him realize his mistakes.

4.      Name that feeling. To help the child understand emotions and feelings, identify and label them as possible. If he behaves in a positive way to other people then say to him that it was very nice to do good things.

5.      Talk about positive and negative behaviors around you. Children and adult are constantly exposed to examples of good and bad behavior in real life, TV and movies. Talk with your child about the behavior. Discuss to them the different types of behavior and their effects to other people.

6.      Set a good example. The child learns how to interact with other people by watching you and other adults he saw. Show to him what it means to be a kind person in that way you will be teaching him how to be an empathetic person.