I studied over 200 children—parents who raise emotionally intelligent children do 7 things early
Raising a child no small feat in today’s fast-paced, achievement-driven world. While many parents focus on grades and extracurriculars, one of the most overlooked skills is emotional intelligence.
This not only helps children to be social; helps them grow into resistantempathetic, i successful adults who can navigate challenges with confidence, foster meaningful relationships and lead fulfilling lives.
So what do parents who raise emotionally intelligent children do differently? After years studying over 200 parent-child relationships — and practicing healthy habits with my own child — I discovered seven powerful strategies that these parents adopted early on.
1. They understood the power of silence
They gave their child space to process their feelings and trust their inner voice. When their child was upset, they sat quietly beside them, providing comfort without words. Embracing silence can help children cope better and reflect on their emotions.
DON’T MISS: How to use AI to be more productive and successful at work
2. They named emotions (mostly their own) early and often
By verbally sharing feelings — like “I’m frustrated” or “I’m happy” — they taught their children emotional awareness and gave them words to express themselves. This helped their children to see emotions as normal and to share them openly instead of repressing them.
3. They apologized to their child
They showed their child that mistakes are part of life and that taking responsibility is strength. Apologizing built trust and showed respect, making their child feel valued. He also modeled empathy and taught them how to repair relationships.
4. They didn’t force ‘please’, ‘thank you’ or ‘sorry’
This might sound unconventional, but they knew that kindness and respect cannot be forced. Instead, they modeled such behaviors, believing that their child would learn by example. If their child forgot to say thank you, the parent said it for them, confident that the lesson would stick over time.
This takes a lot of courage! But as a parenting coach, I never told my 6-year-old to say please or thank you. Now he keeps saying it himself – because he hears me saying it.
5. They didn’t dismiss small worries
They took their child’s concerns seriously, whether it was a lost toy or a problem with a friend. By validating their feelings, they showed their child that emotions are important. This fostered self-esteem, emotional security and respect for their experiences.
6. They didn’t always offer solutions
The best way to teach decision making is to encourage children to make their own decisions. Instead of solving the problems, they asked, “What do you think we should do?” This helped to strengthen critical thinking, self-confidence and independence.
7. They accepted boredom
They let their child get bored, which helped them feel comfortable in the silence. This built creativity, self-regulation and problem-solving skills. Their child has learned to enjoy his own company and find joy in simple moments, like staring out the car window instead of needing a screen.
How to nurture your child’s emotional intelligence
- Model the behavior you want to see: Openly express your emotions, apologize when you make a mistake, and show kindness and empathy in your interactions.
- Validate your child’s feelings, no matter how small they may seem, and give them space to process those feelings without rushing to fix or dismiss them.
- Encourage problem solving by asking open-ended questions rather than providing all the answers.
- Allow them to experience moments of silence or boredom to build creativity and self-regulation.
Most importantly, focus on building a relationship rooted in respect and trust – because emotional intelligence starts with feeling safe, valued and understood.
Reem Raouda she is a certified conscious parenting coach, mother and creator TIED — the first and only parent-child bonding magazine designed to foster children’s emotional intelligence and self-esteem. Through it, she transformed hundreds of families courses, training and tools. Follow her further Instagram.
Want to improve your AI skills and be more productive? Take CNBC’s new online course How to use AI to be more successful at work. Expert instructors will teach you how to get started, practical usage, tips for effective speed writing and mistakes to avoid. Pre-order now and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory 30% discount until February 11, 2025.
