Friday, August 14, 2015
Controlling Impulse Through Emotional Intelligence And Self-Awareness
What is impulse control? How do we bring intelligence to emotion?
When feeling
overwhelmed it is easier to lose touch with rationality; how can we cope? Things so often need to be a balance. Learning early on how to handle emotions in a
healthy manner can be beneficial in the long run. This awareness can help us acknowledge our
emotions and choose a healthy response.
Watching two
brothers prepare to ride their bikes down a steep grassy slope, I see the older
brother quickly descend, brake to a stop and celebrate his victory. Turning around to encourage his younger
brother (on a smaller bike) he says “Go for it!” The younger boy not having as much motor
control accelerates down the hill, wobbles, swerves and crashes…hard. He was not ready for such speed and lost
control. The impulse to follow his brother’s
lead overcame any rational thought about the danger.
Other times
fear can be the irrational side and prevents a person from taking on a rewarding
opportunity. Much of emotional
intelligence comes from knowing when to use self-restraint and when to express
emotions. To use the video posted on SmartGamesAndToys page on Facebook
as an example, the father is encouraging his son to be brave while getting his
shots. He was encouraging him to conquer
his fear. There are times to cry and that’s
okay but there are times to move forward despite of fear. Each individual has to determine how best to
express or restrain each emotion in the current moment and this is done through
self-awareness. Is fear appropriate in
the moment or is moving forward the course of action? Up to you!
John Wayne says, “Courage is being scared to death but saddling up
anyway.”
But perhaps that younger brother would have been better off to tell his older sibling to take a hike, and that he was not ready for that hill. Proper impulse control takes practice and self-awareness.
Parents can
help their children by talking with them in emotional situations and letting
them make decisions after thinking through options. Games like puzzles help this
process.
In Daniel Goleman’s book “Emotional Intelligence” he claims there are ways to subdue our most destructive and self-defeating emotional impulse and habits. And he suggests that there is a window of opportunity for shaping children’s emotional habits. In essence emotional control and balance can influence our well being and even our health. We are not just at the mercy of our genetics and our temperament. We can learn and shape our emotional circuits and become more emotionally intelligent. So childhood is a critical period for building a foundation of healthy emotional habits. Pioneering parents will teach their children these skills early so they may excel to success. If there is a remedy to the claims of a more troubled younger generation it is through preparation and practice of emotional intelligence. Don’t’ leave it to chance; work with your children now.
Monday, August 10, 2015
What Does Emotional Intelligence Have To Do With It?
Emotional Intelligence Is More Important Than You May Realize
Aristotle
wrote “Anyone can become angry-that is easy.
But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right
time, for the right purpose, and in the right way-this is not easy.”
What is
emotional development and how does it pertain to parents and their
children? It is not wise to rely solely
on educational institutions for complete child development. Not to discredit schools but they cannot give
the one on one attention that a parent can.
So it is important for parents to know about emotional development to
adequately prep their children.
Why is
emotional intelligence important? If emotional
control is not developed early in life, it more than likely will not be
developed in adulthood. And often times it
is more difficult to learn something later.
Like learning a new language, youthful minds retain the new information
more efficiently. Knowing who
you are is part of emotional intelligence and this knowledge not only builds
self-confidence but helps create more genuine relationships. Don’t depend on someone else to teach this to
your children. Have the knowledge and
tools to work with your kids early on; and you will learn things too.
On
SmartGamesAndToys home page is a picture of a mother and her daughter playing
on the floor. They are both smiling and
engaged in an activity. This may seem
like a simple snap shot but the significance is great. Children look up to their parents and see
them as role models. The time you spend
with them is valuable time that is almost incomprehensible in the impact it can
have on your child. Just sitting on the
floor putting a puzzle together teaches them emotional control. It illustrates structure and patience and
self-control.
Life can be
challenging. School and work and daily
encounters with others bring an onslaught of emotions. With proper preparation and self-awareness
one can better handle difficult situations.
Rather than merely reacting; one can effectively respond.
Neglect in
emotional management has negative impacts on our daily lives, in our families
and communities. This despair shows up
in children left with a television as a babysitter or in abused children. This feeling of despair shows up as depression
or aggression and news reports of increased teens with guns in schools. Where is there hope in any better way? While we continue to focus on IQ it is also
becoming increasingly important to alter our emotional intelligence; which
(good news) is something we can improve upon with awareness. Emotional intelligence includes self-control
and persistence; it is the ability to motivate one’s self. These are skills that can be taught to
children. This also helps a child better
utilize their genetic intelligence. The
next couple blog entries will have more ideas of things parents can do with
their children to have happier, healthier and more emotionally sound children.
Friday, August 7, 2015
Benefits of Ride On Toys
Strengthening motor skills is one of the benefits of ride on toys for kids.
Typically by the age of two the major motor skills such as standing up, walking and running are utilized but it is important to improve and practice those skills during early childhood. Operating ride on toys helps enhance balance and encourages physical fitness. As your child moves across various terrain they are learning to balance and shift their weight.
This is also
an early lesson in learning to ride a bike.
When it comes time to put your youngster on a bike for the first time
they will be better prepared and have more confidence from playing on a ride on
toy. And ride on toys are a great way
for your child to be active and increase fitness while having fun outdoors.
Another
advantage of ride on toys is greater spatial awareness. While kids are riding toys they are also
looking out ahead on the path they are traveling. If there is an object in their way they will
have to adjust their speed and direction to go around the object. This works on their ability to readjust their
course and make snap decisions. So not
only are their bodies active, their minds are active too.
Ride on toys can be used individually which
encourages independent play. This can
boost self-confidence as the more they successfully venture out on their own
they know they can trust themselves. You
will enjoy watching your child use their imagination while driving their “pretend”
car and having a blast playing “grown up.”
Check out SmartGamesAndToys fun ride on toys and you will want to invest
in one of these toys that is durable and fun for your kid.
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