Emotional intelligence is best defined as, having the ability to validly reason with emotions and to use emotions to enhance thought. Emotions are used and express each day, which makes it important to be able to do so through communication in positive and professional manner. Emotional intelligence relates to communication by how we perceive our emotions through a conversation. It is especially important in communication on its base to be clear in a conversation with another individual. Furthermore having the ability to clearly distinguish personality traits of another person is useful when communicating.
When working with children in the Early Childhood Education field care providers identify and display many emotions with children each day. As a child care provider it is significant to be able to understand emotions and have the ability to help the children cope and express these emotions they feel. In relation to expression children become capable of using emotional communication to express clear nonverbal messages about social situations and relationships they have with one another along with the care providers. It is in the care provider’s hands to aid the children to become more understanding of these emotions.
Therefore by giving the children abilities to accurately identify and label their own and others’ emotions by working with the children learn and understand these emotions and how to positively express them. Especially with the more common emotions such as: happiness, sadness, anger and fear. When working with children demonstrating on how to regulate emotions in productive ways by showing awareness of their feelings, observing them and modifying them when necessary as well as handling emotions in varying situations. There are many ways to incorporate emotions in productive ways when working with the children.
Creating activities for the children to be able to identify emotions and how to handle that specific emotion is a great way to instill this characteristic. Such activities could include doing assessments in identifying an emotion and what this emotion would look like to them. Moreover even in additional developmental areas such as, reading or dramatic play could the children learn to identify and express emotions to create an understanding with how the intellect of creating and identifying emotions. Further integrating emotions when working with children is to deliberate and embrace the four domains of emotional intelligence. handout)
The four domains are: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Each of these domains includes essential evidence that emotional intelligence is included in a child’s development. With self-awareness this includes the beliefs and awareness of their own emotions. Becoming aware of emotions and behaviors at an early age will continue to help the child be able to express emotions in a constructive way. In regards to self-management positive or negative ways a child handles or expresses emotions demonstrates their understanding for emotions.
If a child has a difficult time in this area, it could result in negative formations of future relationships. In social awareness having the ability to nonverbally communicate is another essential way for children to communicate. Children often act on impulses which restrains them from being able to express or identify emotions of another person. Creating empathy to understand the basic emotional needs of their self and another person’s as well. Correspondingly in management of a relationship, empathy will support in developing positive conflict resolutions.
In a child’s perspective the common way of expressing an emotion is based on how they perceive their own emotion, in opposing the other’s feelings. Therefore helping to maintain positive and supporting affirmation with others is what will further continue to develop and maintain emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence in working with children will develop and shape their future developments of expressing and identifying emotions. In the work place as adults we all demonstrate and identify emotions with administrators, coworkers, children, and their families.
As we communicate every day with a variety of different people it is an important skill to have to be able to identify emotions and be able to include them appropriately when we communicate, and to be able to form an open an affirmative relationship. When using emotional intelligence in a professional manner we are to include all of which is included to construct EQ when working with children. Encompassed is self and emotionalawareness. When having an awareness of our self and our emotions, we then would have the capability to identify our own strengths and weaknesses.
When one is able to understand what is strength and weakness to their own capabilities will also include their ways to incorporate how to communicate with other individuals. While communicating with others we must include our self-regulation. In self-regulation this is where having self-control of being able to adapt to different situations is vital. In the work place we may face new jobs titles or situations which include how we face and compromise with these new conditions. As a manifestation of self-regulations is when one is able to logically disclose their emotions and exercise restraint when needed in new or unfamiliar situations.
This in regards to that is where the role of having motivation will overcome these situations. Once having a sense of motivation this is where we express having the commitment to achieve goals. Having EQ this is when being resilient and optimistic during a disappointing encounter having the sense of internal ambition will over- come this emotion. Additionally including empathy, this expresses compassion and understanding of human nature which allows us to connect with other people on a personal emotional level. Lastly, is portraying an ideal sense of social skills.
As in the work place, and most definitely when working with children discussing with parents and families about their child/ren having social skills is key. In having social skills this is based on having the ability to express leadership abilities, and toe collaborate with working with others. For example working with others conflicts are possible to arise, therefore in social skills being able to have a conflict managements plan is important. Being able to build a trustworthy and strong relationship in the work p and when working with others we are entitled of more than just communicating but what is involved and needed for communicating
In conclusion, in Early Childhood Education and even in the work place we incorporate many social skills and portray many features of ourselves based on how we communicate and are capable to create relationships with others. Especially when working with children creating a trusting and positive relationship through using emotions is what we identify as emotional intelligence. Based on how situations are handled that involve emotions and conflicts this is how the importance of emotional intelligence is included and serves a purpose.
