Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children with Stories

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a better predictor of future happiness than IQ. But how do you teach it? You can't just lecture on feelings. You have to feel them.

Stories as Simulators

Think of stories as flight simulators for social life. A child can experience jealousy, anger, fear, and triumph safely within the pages of a book or the sound of a voice. They practice handling these emotions before they face them in real life.

Building a Vocabulary

Kids often act out because they don't have the words. Stories give them the words. "I feel frustrated like Leo," or "I feel shy like the Nervous Newt." Naming the dragon is the first step to taming it.