The Importance of Developing Emotional Intelligence in Primary School
The purposes of education extend beyond the acquisition of knowledge; school serves as a site for socialisation, where our little ones are exposed to unfamiliar situations that push them to regulate their emotions independently, learn to exert themselves and negotiate with others. At the primary level, it is of paramount importance that the school plays a role in fostering this emotional intelligence for a multitude of reasons, some of which are discussed below.
Self-awareness
Primary school encompasses developmental stages during which children develop self-awareness. It is crucial that they learn to identify and articulate their feelings in order to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and improve their resilience; this will lay a strong foundation for their relationships with others in and out of school environments.
Social Skills
Teaching emotional intelligence will support the building of improved social skills; beyond an understanding of themselves, they will understand and grow more empathetic to others’ feelings. Specifically, through role-playing, group discussions and collaborative activities they will learn to respect and respond to others’ feelings. The playground and the classroom expose children to various scenarios in which they can apply these learnings and engage with others in a meaningful way.
Coping Mechanisms
As our little ones begin primary school, they will begin to encounter a wide range of new emotions that they must learn to cope with in a health way. By equipping them with a toolbox of skills such as deep breathing, mindfulness techniques and positive self-talk, we can support their emotional regulation.
Academic Achievement
Emotional intelligence is strongly linked to academic achievement as emotional regulation and resilience enables better focus and organisation as the difficulty and quantity of academic work increases. This gradual increase continues through the end of their formal education, thus underpinning the importance of developing these skills in primary school.
Incorporating a strong focus on developing emotional intelligence in our primary programme represents a continued commitment on our part to collaborate with our families to support our children’s development holistically. Emotional intelligence is deeply embedded in our core values to encourage compassionate leaders, stimulate innovating thinking, raise world citizens, build the power of concentration, grow physical and intellectual independence and nurture lifelong learners.
