Having spent so much time focusing on organizations, I have decided to take a deeper look into EQ and the importance of teaching this skill in our schooling system as our focus for this month.
Thinking of the education system, I often find myself asking the question, “How can we best educate children for the new world of work?”
Emotional intelligence is as crucial to our children’s future as the standard academic fare, and as such there is now a greater need for a broader preparation for life than the traditional school curriculum has offered.
We should be boosting the level of EQ within our youth and every parent, teacher, school and company should recognize the value this will ultimately bring to society and organizations as these children enter the workforce. If they do not learn this at home or in school, then organizations will need to teach them once they enter the workplace.
Children with greater EQ have been shown to have greater success with making and maintaining friendships, can manage conflict with peers better, have greater academic success and have lower absenteeism.
There is abundant research on the risks to children who don’t develop their EQ. These children who are unable to manage their emotions have a greater risk of self-medicating with drugs and alcohol, having issues in managing their anger, impulsivity, developing eating disorders, and overall engaging in more risky behaviors.
Learning how to become emotionally literate is one of the best investments that human beings can make for themselves, their children and their future as it is the first step to self-regulation.
Intelligence plus character is the true goal of education.
EQ develops from the early years as all exchanges children have with their parents, teachers and each other carry emotional messages.
As Emotional Intelligence means being smarter with our feelings, nearly everything we do throughout our lives depends on our EQ, from maintaining healthy relationships to achieving our goals.
It is therefore essential to understand that EQ needs to be included in our education system to ensure that our children are well equipped for the future, building relationships and dealing with the challenges of the world that may come along.
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