How to Build Emotional Intelligence in Preschoolers

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Emotional intelligence (EI) is a crucial skill for our little preschoolers. It’s about helping kids manage their emotions and understand the feelings of people around them. Think of it as teaching them some pretty cool superpowers!

Research has shown that kids with higher EI often do better academically and, more importantly, have more positive interactions with peers and grow up to lead happier, healthier lives. Isn’t that amazing? Imagine your little one being able to express their feelings with words instead of tantrums! They will feel more secure and confident in their social interactions and ready to take on challenges.

With this guide, you’ll be setting them up for a future filled with emotional smarts and success.

The Building Blocks of Emotional Intelligence

As a parent, you’re a big part of helping your preschoolers understand and manage their emotions. Here’s how you can help.

1. Self-Awareness

Helping your child understand their emotions starts with self-awareness, and with a bit of creativity, you can turn this learning journey into something beautiful and enjoyable.

  • Making an “Emotion Chart”

Treat it as a DIY project. Gather some paper and draw or print out different faces showing emotions such as happy, sad, angry, and surprised. The next thing you have to do is by placing the chart somewhere easily accessible to your child like on the refrigerator or in their room, everyday, make it a habit to check in. Ask your child how they feel today, encouraging them to pick the face that matches how they feel. This simple activity is important because it helps kids identify and name their emotions.


Emotions Flip Chart 25 Different Moods with Coping Skills Learn

  • Another enjoyable way is through “Mirror Play.”

Sit or stand together in front of a mirror, then create silly faces. Ask your child to guess what emotion each face shows. You can turn it into a game by challenging little ones to copy your expressions or guess what emotion you’re showing. This will bring lots of giggles while also teaching them emotional words.

2. Self-Regulation

When your child begins to understand their emotions, the next important step is teaching them how to control and handle those feelings. Luckily, there are simple methods to do this together.

  • “Deep-Breathing” exercise

You can use straightforward visualization to illustrate this. For example, you can suggest imagining they’re “smelling a flower” when inhaling and “blowing out a candle” when exhaling. Show them how to do it first, so they feel confident, and afterward, do it together.

  • “Counting to Calm” technique

Simply have them slowly count to ten—it’s an easy tool they can use whenever they’re upset. This simple act of counting gives them a chance to cool off before reacting—like when they’re fighting over toys or transitioning between activities. With some practice, they will get better at counting to calm themselves down.

3. Interpersonal Abilities

Helping your preschooler develop strong interpersonal abilities is crucial to their emotional growth. At this stage, kids are just starting to figure out how to bond with others.

  • Role-Playing Scenarios

Set up situations where your child needs to express themselves, share, or take turns. For example, pretend you’re on a playground and show them how to nicely ask to join a game or handle it if someone grabs their toy. This boosts their confidence and gets them ready for everyday situations.

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  • Group Activities

Take your kids to cooperative building projects like building a block tower or playing board games and puzzles as a group. Turn-taking and teamwork are inherently required in these activities, promoting healthy social interactions. They can also be a great way to spend quality time with family and friends and are a lot of fun.

4. Empathy

It is an invaluable skill, and you can start nurturing it in your child through creative and easy-to-do activities.

  • Storytime Discussions

Storytime is a great chance to help your child understand others. While you’re reading together, take a moment to talk about what the characters might be going through. Ask your kid how the character might feel or what they would do in that situation; it helps your kid understand different feelings and viewpoints.

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  • Emotion Matching Game

Prepare a set of cards with different faces showing various emotions. Describe various situations, such as losing a toy or receiving a gift. Ask your child to pick the card that shows how they would feel in that situation. Such discussions can also help your kid understand various emotions and perspectives.
Emotional Intelligence Flashcard Game Toddlers Special Needs Children

5. Motivation

Keeping your child motivated is key to making these lessons stick. You can make a big difference with positive reinforcement and a dash of creativity.

  • Reward Charts

Make a sticker chart for actions like sharing, helping a friend, or calmly talking about their feelings. Once the chart is filled up, give a small treat, like extra playtime or a special snack. It’s a fun way to teach and gives them something to aim for.

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  • Consistent Praise

Don’t forget to use specific praise to acknowledge their efforts. Instead of just saying, “Good job,” be more specific, like “Great job waiting your turn!” or “I’m so proud of how you did that!” Clear and specific praise helps kids know exactly what actions are good and should be repeated.


Positive affirmations cards for kids

Tips for Parents to Promote Emotional Intelligence

Helping your preschooler develop emotional intelligence can be pretty simple and rewarding. It’s all about setting a good example and ensuring they feel safe and understood. Here are some tips to get you going!

Model Emotional Intelligence

A great way to teach emotional intelligence is by practicing it yourself. Show your kids how you know your feelings and how you manage them. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, talk about it and demonstrate healthy coping strategies, like a short walk or taking deep breaths. Demonstrate empathy in daily interactions – when your child is upset, get down to their level, listen intently, and show that you understand their feelings. Your actions will serve as their first lessons.

Create a Safe Emotional Environment

Make your home a haven where feelings are welcomed and validated. Encourage open conversations about emotions by asking your preschooler open-ended questions and actively listening to their answers. When they express their emotions, whether it’s joy or frustration, respond positively – “I see you’re upset, and that’s okay. Let’s figure it out together. This approach reinforces the idea that sharing feelings is good and all emotions matter.

Use Everyday Instances

Daily routines and interactions offer golden opportunities for teaching moments. While reading a story, ask your child how they think the characters are feeling. Use playtime to role-play different situations and emotions. When challenges arise, like a toy breaking, use it to teach problem-solving and emotional regulation – “It’s okay to feel sad, but let’s see how we can fix it or find something else to play with.”

Monitoring Progress

Tracking your preschooler’s emotional growth can be a fun and rewarding journey. The following are some simple ways to monitor their progress!

Regular Check-Ins

Spend a few moments every day or week to chat with your kids about their feelings. You can do this at bedtime or right after preschool. These short talks can give you insights into their emotions. You could try asking open-ended questions like, “What made you happy today?” or “Did anything bother you?” It helps them understand their feelings better.

Observe and Record

Why not start a little journal to write down those special moments when your child does something emotional or social? Just like sharing toys or calming down after being upset! Keeping track of these moments can help you see how they do over time. Plus, looking back at your notes and seeing their progress is satisfying!

Communicate with Educators

Team up with your child’s preschool teachers! Share your observations and get their feedback on your child’s emotional and social development. Teachers have some awesome tips and tricks you might not think of. Keeping in touch with them means everyone is on the same page and teaming up to nurture their emotional growth.

The Bottom Line

Teaching emotional intelligence (EI) is like giving your preschooler superhero skills. Research says kids with higher EI do better in school and lead happier lives. As parents, we’re their biggest cheerleaders, showing them how to understand and manage their feelings. We play a crucial role in helping them grow emotionally and prepare for life’s adventures.

Don’t forget, practice makes perfect! Keep incorporating these fun activities and techniques into your daily routine. Consistent reinforcement will help these skills stick. So, let’s keep the emotional learning journey going and watch our little ones blossom into emotionally smart superheroes!

About The Author

Andrea Gibbs Guest post blogger

Andrea Gibbs

A lifelong New Yorker, balances the demands of being a work-from-home mom with her expertise in business development, strategy, and social media marketing. Andrea contributes to the Kemit Academy blog in Chicago, IL, offering insights and guidance to help parents set their children up for academic success. In her role as Content Manager at SpringHive Web Design Company, she ensures the delivery of exceptional content for a wide array of clients. When not immersed in her professional duties, Andrea finds joy in exploring new recipes and spending quality time with her family.

About the Author

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Linhy Banh

I'm Linhy, a proud mom, business owner, and content creator (UGC) based in Quebec. I love sharing my passion for travel, lifestyle, and entrepreneurship with others, hoping to inspire families to explore, connect, and find ways to build fulfilling lives. Whether it’s tips for memorable family trips, insights on business growth, or lifestyle inspiration, I'm here to help make the journey a little easier and a lot more fun!

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