Emotional Literacy
Introduction The term emotional intelligence came into common usage following the success in the 1990s of Daniel Goleman’s book, Emotional Intelligence; why it can matter more than IQ. Goleman pointed out that ‘success’ in life depends not only on our IQ as measured by our literacy and numeracy skills but, more importantly, on how well we know our own emotional make-up, manage our emotional responses and react to the emotional responses of others. Goleman’s emotional intelligence speaks to the topical issue today; the issue of emotional literacy.
Understanding emotional literacy is the key to help the young child develop self-esteem, self-control and so become socially and educationally successful. The National Early Childhood Care and Education Curriculum Guide wellness strand suggest that an environment need to be created which nurture children’s emotional well-being. It also states that children need to develop emotional competence which will help them to deal with their feelings appropriately.
Emotional literacy is the ability to identify, understand, and to respond to emotions in oneself and others in a healthy manner.
What it means to be emotionally literate:
To be emotionally literate one has to develop a complex set of attitudes and skills. Skills can be learned and attitudes can be adopted if the environment the individual is in values and nurtures emotional literacy. Component skills that make up emotional literacy include: * Ability to reflect on one’s own emotions * Self-knowledge (understanding the reasons for one’s actions). * Understanding of consequences * Self-control * Healthy self-image (feeling good about oneself, but also being able to acknowledge aspects of oneself that need developing). * Ability to empathise with others. * Understanding of the way others behave as they do. * Understanding how effective relationships are forged and sustained. * Ability to discuss
Understanding emotional literacy is the key to help the young child develop self-esteem, self-control and so become socially and educationally successful. The National Early Childhood Care and Education Curriculum Guide wellness strand suggest that an environment need to be created which nurture children’s emotional well-being. It also states that children need to develop emotional competence which will help them to deal with their feelings appropriately.
Emotional literacy is the ability to identify, understand, and to respond to emotions in oneself and others in a healthy manner.
What it means to be emotionally literate:
To be emotionally literate one has to develop a complex set of attitudes and skills. Skills can be learned and attitudes can be adopted if the environment the individual is in values and nurtures emotional literacy. Component skills that make up emotional literacy include: * Ability to reflect on one’s own emotions * Self-knowledge (understanding the reasons for one’s actions). * Understanding of consequences * Self-control * Healthy self-image (feeling good about oneself, but also being able to acknowledge aspects of oneself that need developing). * Ability to empathise with others. * Understanding of the way others behave as they do. * Understanding how effective relationships are forged and sustained. * Ability to discuss