EQforChildren

07/16/2024

How do we teach children the ability to stick with something no matter how long it takes? Persistence is the key and it has an interesting formula to follow.

The seventh attribute of emotional intelligence is persisting in the face of frustration.

So, it's imperative that this skill is acquired at a very young age. For whether we are learning to put on our clothes, simple math or complex coding, the learning process depends upon persistence. Frustration happens and here is where we build the necessary skills to proceed. We look at what we have already accomplished. We support with positive statements. We model resilience. However, most of all, we must look at our glasses half full and be grateful for what we have accomplished thus far. The formula for persistence is connected to gratefulness for this gives us the perspective to continue. This provides us the momentary glimpse into our past successes upon which we build our new ones.

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07/10/2024

🎙️ I’m going to be going live with Karen Stone from on Wednesday.

I’m so excited to be chatting all about teaching EQ in your homeschool. Karen is a wonderful guest and you’re going to love what she shares!

07/09/2024

Why is it important for adults to play with their children? We begin to learn about ourselves through play and discovery. Discovering who we are does not come to a stop when we become adults. It's a forever journey. What better way to keep our inner child alive then playing with children! It reawakens and reactivates our curiosity for the unknown and gives our children models of what is an important element to keep alive and nurtured. So, just don't play with your children because it is good parenting, guilt winning out, or they won't leave you alone. Play with them because you need this play as much as they do!

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07/08/2024

When celebrating this 4th of July, consider an independence closer to home. Why do caregivers resist giving children the independence that honors their physical, mental and emotional well-being and growth? There are several reasons.

1. It's easier to do it for them in the short run.
2. It maintains control of their environments.
3. Children resist it because it is easier to have someone do it for them.
4. Life in the fast lane requires speed and continuous movement forward.

I could list a few more but you get the picture. Next time you go to do something that a child is capable of doing....RESIST instead the urge to do it for them. For in the long run, it fosters an independence that honors them and you.

Happy 4th of July!

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07/05/2024

Hello Everyone, I am honored to share with you a Podcast with a wonderful homeschool mom who resides in South Africa. Charlotte Jones and I have connected and she is a big proponent of emotional intelligence. She and her children use my Voices of CJ program everyday. Below you will see the link for this podcast and all the ways that you can include EQ with your children on an everyday basis. In just 25 minutes, I reviewed the 7 attributes of EQ and their importance in your child's development.

About the Podcast On the Strike a Balance Podcast for Working Homeschool Moms this week, I have the great pleasure of welcoming Karen Stone, BA, Special Ed, MA, Learning Disabilities, onto the podcast. Karen has worked in the education field for more than 45 years. Karen’s education background and...

06/25/2024

How do we teach children to surrender and let go. This is a choice that requires higher thinking and the ability to weigh alternatives.

For ex. "Do I punch him back? Or, do I go for help?" "Do I pick up my toys when asked? Or do I risk a time out?" Weighing those alternatives and choosing to let go require feelings of self-confidence and the ability to delay gratification. So gratifying at the moment to punch back. Yet, what is achieved? So empowering to ignore a request at the moment.

Yet, what has been truly achieved. When observing children, notice their responses and you will see what feelings and skills they need to acquire in order to demonstrate surrendering to a long-term positive outcome.

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06/12/2024

How do we share Important national news with our children? In today's world that is a dicey dilemma. Children absorb conversations of their caretakers and peers. Therefore, we need to stay ahead of the conversations with short messages that entail truth and assurance. Avoidance is not a good strategy.

They will interpret it and experience unnecessary fears and anxiety. With the wars in Europe, the upcoming elections and climate change catastrophe's reported each day, take a few minutes each day to give them update. Pick a specific time each day.

Answer their questions and if you do not know, tell them you will find out. Follow the conversation with deep breaths and affirmations of love and peace. Our children deserve the emotional safety this brings.

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06/05/2024

How do you assess your children's social/emotional intelligence growth over a year's time.? With the ending of the school year, this is an important protocol to include in your progress reports. My favorite for early childhood is the Brigance. It is easy to use and is specific to behavioral skill development. The 7 attributes of EQ are also aligned well with readiness for kindergarten. So let's look at what your children have achieved this year.

1. Are they more empathetic toward their peers? Are they sharing kind voices.
2. Are they more self-confident and able to express positive thoughts.
3. Can they delay gratification? Are they more patient about getting their needs met?
4. Are they able to manage their emotions? Have they developed calming skills and are better able to express their feelings?
5. Are they able to say they are sorry and show how they are doing it differently? Accountability is important in relationships.
6. Are they able to be creative, share their toys, be a good buddy and support others well-being?
7. What happens with challenges? Are they able to have resilience and stay positive? Are they able to be grateful for what they do have?

I hope this gives parents and teachers a way to evaluate the past year and to see growth in their children's social/emotional intelligence. It is 80% the reason we are successful in life.

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04/24/2024

Is building self-confidence a choice children can make? The answer is absolutely yes! Teaching them the 7 attributes of EQ gives them the power of choice for all their thoughts. We are not innately born with these skills. So….they need to be taught. They are greatly responsible for our success in all areas of life. They learn to make conscious decisions and not depend on their reactions to their feelings. They choose how to react and they choose to be responsible for their actions. The old saying, " The devil made me do it" or the scrunching of shoulders and the deer in the headlights look, no longer play a major part in their actions and reactions. Choosing their actions and reactions, builds the self-confidence that leads to success. Even with negative feedback, they have the powerful choice to know that it isn't true. How I wish I had had that skill and learning EQ at an early age.

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04/10/2024

What is the reason that children stop taking chances or risking new experiences? Children learn at an early age when it is emotionally safe to take a chance or risk. Whether they are learning their letters or helping their buddies, the feedback they receive is the clincher. Encouragement and positive feedback allows for making errors and trying again. Feedback that is negative immediately is registered as emotionally unsafe. Caution takes hold and whatever learning was in motion comes to a halt. Fear and caution replace that excitement of learning new things. This includes the fear of helping others, making mistakes and feeling not good enough. So, it critical in the education and parenting of young children that we always provide positive feedback and assurances that keep their emotional well-being in tack.

Creators of Joy learn to take a chance and risk when the feedback they receive is emotionally safe.

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