Parents who do 7 things early on tend to have kids with high emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is often overlooked while raising a child in today's fast-paced, achievement-driven world, with many parents focusing on grades and extracurriculars.

Helping kids develop social skills not only aids them in excelling socially but also prepares them to become resilient, empathetic, and successful adults capable of handling challenges with confidence, building strong relationships, and leading fulfilling lives.

What are the seven strategies that parents of emotionally intelligent kids use? After analyzing over 200 parent-child relationships and observing my own child's development, I have identified these strategies that parents of emotionally intelligent kids typically adopt early on.

1. They understood the power of silence

By giving their child space to process their feelings and trust their inner voice, they helped them navigate and reflect on their emotions. When their child was upset, they sat quietly beside them, offering comfort without words.

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2. They named emotions early and often (mostly their own)

Through verbal expression of emotions, parents imparted emotional awareness to their children and provided them with the vocabulary to communicate their feelings. As a result, children learned to view emotions as normal and openly express them rather than concealing them.

3. They apologized to their child

By demonstrating that mistakes are a natural part of life and taking responsibility is a virtue, they instilled in their child a sense of trust and respect. Through apologizing, they showed empathy and taught their child how to mend relationships.

They did not use 'please,' 'thank you,' or 'sorry.'

Instead of forcing kindness and respect, the parents demonstrated these behaviors and trusted their child to learn by example. If the child forgot to say thank you, the parent said it for them, confident that the lesson would stick over time.

As a parenting coach, I've never instructed my 6-year-old to use "please" or "thank you." However, he now frequently uses these phrases because he has heard me say them.

5. They didn't dismiss small worries

By validating their child's feelings, they showed that emotions matter, fostering self-worth, emotional safety, and respect for their experiences.

6. They didn't always offer solutions

Encouraging children to make their own decisions is the best way to teach decision-making. Instead of solving problems for them, they asked, "What do you think we should do?" This boosted their critical thinking, confidence, and independence.

7. They embraced boredom

Allowing their child to become bored helped them develop creativity, self-regulation, and problem-solving skills. The child learned to appreciate their own company and find pleasure in the simple things, such as observing the scenery while driving.

How to nurture your child's emotional intelligence

• Expressing emotions openly, apologizing for mistakes, and showing kindness and empathy in interactions are behaviors that should be modeled.
• Validate your child's feelings, no matter how small they may seem, and provide them with space to process those emotions without rushing to fix or dismiss them.
• Encourage problem-solving by asking open-ended questions instead of providing all the answers.
• Let them experience moments of stillness or boredom to build creativity and self-regulation.

Building a relationship rooted in respect and trust is crucial for emotional intelligence, as it involves feeling safe, valued, and understood.

As a certified conscious parenting coach, mother, and creator of BOUND, Reem Raouda has helped hundreds of families develop emotional intelligence and self-worth in their children through her courses, coaching, and tools. Follow her on Instagram.

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