Emotionally intelligent people have self-awareness, empathy, and excellent communication skills - traits that can significantly impact a child's mental health and overall well-being. But how do we, as parents, cultivate these abilities in our children?
Starting a conversation about mental health with kids can be challenging. Younger children may struggle to grasp the concept, while older ones might resist opening up. Yet, equipping our children with emotional intelligence is key to fostering resilience and teaching them to manage and express their emotions effectively, which helps our children's overall mental health. It's even more important in the tumultuous tween and teen years. During this time, it's considered 'normal' for kids to withdraw and shut down, leaving parents feeling even more in the dark about their inner world.
