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 galore! Triangle leaves his house to go play a sneaky … [Read more...]
fit4Schools: Movement and Healthy Lifestyles in Schools
Research proves that movement is an important part of learning. Not only as a teaching tool (kinesthetic learning), but as a way to stimulate the brain for improved learning. Now, a new, free website filled with teacher resources and lessons, fit4Schools, hopes to contribute positively to movement in schools and to educate students about healthy lifestyles. fit4Schools is a health activation … [Read more...]
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! She's so rude! Her poor sister! I'm sick of this! … [Read more...]
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. Picture Books That Teach About Emotions The Color Monster a Pop-Up Book of Feelings by Anna Llenas Monster's colors are all scribbly and mixed-up which means his emotions are, … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
Emotional Intelligence Activity for Kids: Pooh Sticks
As you know, we're talking a lot about emotional intelligence and mindfulness this summer. Emotional awareness is the first step to being mindful, in order to develop emotional intelligence, or EQ. To begin, you must observe your emotions without judgement. I've found an emotional intelligence activity for kids that will give them a visual representation of how the emotions flow in and out the … [Read more...]
Emotional Intelligence Activities for Kids
Because it's an assignment from school, I've been reading aloud Emotional Intelligence 2.0 by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves to my 13- year old daughter. It's been exactly what she needs. It's helping her label not just the emotions that are floating around her adolescent brain, but is providing strategies to improve both her emotional self-awareness and emotional self-management. In doing … [Read more...]
Teaching Mindfulness to Kids
I believe in the power of mindfulness which is why I'm teaching mindfulness to my kids. What Is Mindfulness? Mindfulness is being aware of what's going on in the present moment. For kids, it helps focus attention, improve self-regulation (impulsivity and decision making,) build resiliency to stress and develop a positive mindset. "With mindfulness, we can preserve our inner joy, so that we can … [Read more...]
Encourage Play Building Social Skills Kits
It was one of those days. I anguished over social issues with one of my kids. It felt like nothing was improving. But then, a most amazing thing happened. Janine Halloran, blogger at Encourage Play and licensed mental health counselor, reached out to me based on a comment I made on a group thread in FB. I didn't even know her at the time, but her words of encouragement and ideas were … [Read more...]
Emotional Intelligence Board Game
Q's Race to the Top is an interactive, engaging emotional intelligence board game. Mompreneur of three kids, Sofia Dickens, designed this game for practicing social skills and behavior. It's meant for children ages three and above. Emotional Intelligence Emotional intelligence (also called social-emotional learning) is the ability to understand, use, and manage emotions. It includes: … [Read more...]
Preschoolers Learn Social-Emotional Skills In Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood
I'm so excited about Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, a new PBS Kids show launching September 3, inspired by Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. It focuses on age-appropriate social-emotional skills for preschoolers. And, it does it through music! (Honestly, it's messages are good for us, too - I get the songs stuck in my head and that's not a bad thing.) Preschoolers Learn Social-Emotional Skills The … [Read more...]
Bullying — Be a Parent or Teacher Who Helps
Thanks to The Bully Project for sponsoring my writing. Visit their website to join the movement and learn more. “Cici’s the boss and she told Jenny and Amy that I can’t play,” my daughter said when she got home from school. I stall for time, “Okay . . . why is she the boss? Who decided that?” “She just is. She said.” Now I’m mad. “Well, can’t you make someone else the boss?” “NO, … [Read more...]