Connect, learn and grow!
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uturing our childrens social and emotional intelligence is perhaps one of the most precious gifts we can give our little ones.
It makes them feel safe, wanted and supported - instilling a sense of security that they will carry with them throughout their entire lives.
We all want to feel connected and emotionally empowered, but how do we actually teach that to our children when we as parents and carers may have never been properly educated?
Just as children learn to read, write, and count, they too need to learn how to express and regulate their emotions. We believe that emotional intelligence is a skill that can be nurtured, just like any other. It requires commitment and time, but the rewards are immeasurable. Imagine witnessing your child flourish with unwavering confidence, empathy, and happiness.
If you find yourself longing for a deeper emotional connection with your child, or trying to get a handle on your child's big emotions, you're not alone. We understand the struggles, and that's why we're here to help.
That is why we have created this step-by-step guide, designed to structure your emotional journey with your child.
Step 1: Acknowledgement
The first and most important step on this journey is acknowledgement.
As parents and carers, our goal should be to provide an environment where our children feel safe enough to express their true feelings, thoughts, and needs without fear.
Many of us are still learning that we are entitled to our own emotional experiences; understanding and expressing our feelings is healthy. We must also acknowledge that when adults take this journey with their children, they are actually developing a greater sense of awareness themselves - creating a very powerful experience of learning together.
Step 2: Setting The Foundations
It’s no secret that a strong, steady house requires a strong, steady foundation. The same principle applies to developing your child's emotional intelligence. The emotional foundation we help our child build is incredibly important.
While you may be eager to jump into discussing feelings and comforting them, it's crucial to first establish your child's sense of self. If your child is preschool age or younger, or if you are just starting the journey of emotional learning with your child, we recommend starting with our Wonderful Me Collection.
This collection serves as a great foundation to help your child develop a positive sense of self-worth, which will benefit them as they further discover and understand their emotions.
Step 3: WorryWoo’s
Once you feel confident with the foundational stage of learning with your child, you are ready to move on to the next step: building their emotional intelligence. For this, we recommend our WorryWoos range, a fantastic tool designed to improve EQ.
The WorryWoos range covers a variety of common emotions that our children will encounter in their lives, presented in a fun and easy-to-understand way. We suggest introducing one emotion at a time, allowing your child to take the time to understand and digest each emotion fully.
Each of the WorryWoos is available individually, or you can opt for the Home Set - specifically created for use in the home environment.
To maximise the benefits of these powerful resources, we encourage our customers to keep their WorryWoos and Wonderful Me books visible and accessible to their children at all times. This way, children can access them whenever needed.
Step 4: Identify Key Issues/Problem Areas
As you explore the WorryWoos range and unpack each unique emotion/feeling, you may identify a key emotion or area that your child struggles with. Or maybe you started this journey due to a specific concern. Regardless, it's highly likely that the WorryWoo range addresses emotions your child may be experiencing. For help with navigating your childs emotions, please refer to our emotions support guide below:
Download GuideIf there is a particular emotion/feeling your child is struggling with, focus on it. By this stage in your journey, you will have already taught your child a fair bit about their emotions, meaning they should now have the skills to work through big emotions.
If you find yourself focusing on one emotion, we recommend having a look at our corresponding plushies or our additional resources and activities that can serve as secondary tools to our WorryWoos range.
Step 5: Be a role model
Children are like sponges, soaking up everything that happens around them. As parents and carers, it falls on us to demonstrate healthy emotional behaviour as a model for them. The best part of our program is that by actively participating and utilising our resources, you are already displaying excellent behaviour to your little ones. Keep up the effort to educate, listen, and validate your child throughout their emotional journey.
At Wonderful Me, We believe every child deserves to be given the best opportunity to develop a healthy and strong EQ. We know that it is EQ, not IQ that becomes the determining factor to our success in life as adults. But we also know that it is hard for busy parents and carers to teach this on their own.
Click below to explore how Wonderful Me can help you and your child discover the secrets to a healthy relationship with their emotions, themselves and each other. Let’s work together to create a world where every child feels empowered and confident in who they are.