Emotional Intelligence in Preschool Education

Strategy 7: Developing Core Components of Emotional Intelligence

• Emotional intelligence (EI) is crucial in education, particularly in early childhood settings, where understanding and managing emotions significantly impact teaching and the emotional development of children.

Perceiving Emotions

• Recognizing and understanding one's own emotions and those of others
• Being aware of how emotions affect interactions with children, parents, and colleagues
• Responding more effectively to the needs of students by understanding emotional state

Using Emotions

• Harnessing emotions to guide appropriate responses and interactions
• Controlling impulsive feelings and behaviors
• Managing emotions in healthy ways, taking initiative, committing to tasks, and adapting to changes in a classroom or educational environment

Understanding Emotions

• Developing the ability to comprehend the emotions, needs, and concerns of others
• Picking up on emotional cues from children who may not yet be able to express their feelings verbally
• Understanding emotional dynamics within the classroom to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment

Managing Emotions

• Using emotional awareness to foster strong, positive relationships and effectively communicate with others
• Inspiring and influencing children positively, working cooperatively with colleagues, and navigating conflicts constructively

Emotional Intelligence (EI) Model

• Developed by psychologists John Mayer and Peter Salavoy in 1990
• Defined as the sum of four skills: perceiving, using, understanding, and managing emotions

Four Skills of Emotional Intelligence

• Perceiving emotions: detecting emotions in faces, pictures, and voices, including in oneself
• Using emotions: aligning heart with head, perceiving changing moods, and changing actions to channel feelings effectively
• Understanding emotions: comprehending complex relationships between feelings, recognizing and describing how moods evolve and change over time
• Managing emotions: regulating feelings in oneself and others, controlling sentiments, managing moods, and influencing the emotions of others

Developing core components of emotional intelligence is crucial for preschool teachers to understand and manage emotions, impacting teaching and children's emotional development. Learn how to enhance emotional intelligence in early childhood settings.