emotional intelligence

Meaningful Ways to Help Kids with Anxiety

Some kids struggle with anxiety starting even as a young child…and for us as parents, our deepest desire it to help them. As a parent with an anxious daughter, I’ve tried a LOT of things…some that have worked and some that haven’t. Today I want to share the tools and strategies that I recommend you […]

New Picture Books that Develop Emotional Literacy

Did you know that in order to feel empathy and have intuition, we need to feel our emotions? And that while these books are really helpful, this stuff is mostly “caught not taught” meaning that as parents and caregivers, we need to be our children’s role models for feeling our feelings. (And not judge the […]

Emotional Intelligence Activities for Kids

(updated: 1/5/19) I’ve been reading aloud Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves to my 13-year-old daughter. It was a school assignment. She didn’t want to read it so we’re reading it together. Interestingly enough, it’s been really helpful. It’s helping AJ label emotions and also providing strategies to improve her emotional self-awareness and emotional self-management. In doing […]

4 New Emotional Intelligence Picture Books

If you’re like me, you’re searching for great ways to build your child’s emotional intelligence. Of course, we’re our children’s first role models but picture books can also be helpful as you intentionally build your kids’ EQ. The conversations that occur before, during, and after reading these books will be rich. 4 New Emotional Intelligence […]

Books That Help Children Learn About Friendship

It’s always lovely to see a new batch of picture books that help model friendship for children. Because friendship is a skill, just like any other; an important emotional intelligence skill. And books about friendship can help. Books That Help Children Learn About Friendship Triangle by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen Quirky humor plus shapes […]

Whose Business Is This? How to Set Your Own Boundaries With Kids

She’s stomping around and glaring. In case we miss how mad she is, her words are laced with contemptuous proof of anger, “I don’t like bananas. I’ve already told you that! Do I need to say it louder so you’ll understand?” Like a fountain splashing dirty water, her rage dumps onto me. And I react. With anger. I’m thinking How ungrateful! […]

Picture Books That Teach About Emotions

I love using picture books to teach children about emotions and increase their emotional intelligence. Consider what your child may be struggling to express, or understand, and how a picture book could help. ALSO READ: The Biggest List of Emotional Intelligence Picture Books Picture Books That Teach About Emotions The Color Monster a Pop-Up Book of Feelings by […]

Can Phone Obsessed Kids Develop Emotional Intelligence?

One of the worries I have for my daughter and her friends is that phones are stunting their emotional intelligence skills — particularly in the areas of social awareness and relationship management. And it’s clear that EQ is a huge predictor of personal happiness and academic success so if it’s not well developed, well, that wouldn’t be ideal. What’s more, I imagine kids’ phones are also used to avoid feelings […]