Best Practice

Developing your pupils’ emotional intelligence

With children and young people facing so many challenges to their wellbeing and mental health, having active strategies in the school environment to develop their emotional intelligence can make a real difference. Expert Shahana Knight offers some quick ideas

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” Aristotle

Emotional intelligence is the ability to be aware of, control and express emotions and navigate through interpersonal relationships thoughtfully and with empathy.

Imagine your two-year-old has kept you awake all night with tummy ache for the second night in a row, you’re up at 5am, the kettle breaks just before you have had a chance to make your first cup of tea for the day and your partner decides to have a lie in.

You find your stress levels are raising and your tolerance is low. What do you do? Do you curse the kettle, snap at your partner and become visibly angry and frustrated. Or do you notice that you’re feeling frustrated, tired and angry and identify that it is probably all down to lack of sleep.

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