Page 76 - EducationWorld December 2022

EW SPOTLIGHT FEATURE

Building emotional strength in

early childhood

Jaishree Narayan is an that we can’t go to the park
educator and psychologist today?”
with over three decades of You could also say “I also feel
experience in the field of early upset when I don’t get to do what I
childhood education. With her want”. When children see that you
background in psychology, she understand them, they feel less
brings unique perspectives compelled to express feelings
to development of young through inappropriate behaviour.
children. They learn that while all emotions
esearch suggests that are acceptable, all behaviours
Jaishree Narayan emotional intelligence is aren’t.
Rtwice as strong a predictor Accepting the feeling:
of later success as IQ. Developing emotional skills in toddlers is There is no quick and easy way to foster acceptance and this stage
essential for the child to feel confident. It aids them in building may persist for several years during which the child has numerous
relationships, taking initiative to get their needs met, in expressing experiences. Teachers can help in this process. All new experiences
how they feel and asking for help when they need it. and the gamut of emotions that accompany them are the building
Children experience emotions in much the same way as adults blocks for acceptance.
do. They feel joyful, excited, angry, sad, frustrated, helpless and so Under the guidance of their teachers, children at Gitanjali engage
on but are unable to recognize them. in activities which aid in emotional
Increasing emotional strength requires the following sequence of development. When children are
actions: upset, screaming into a brown
• Recognizing the feeling paper bag put up in the class,
• Expressing the feeling in a socially appropriate way named the “Scream bag”, helps
• Accepting the feeling them release pent-up negative
emotions and calm down.
Recognizing the feeling: Specific breathing exercises
Teachers should not be dismissive of children when they express and using a Calm Down Box often
emotions in any manner or try to distract them. Viewing negative helps. Children prepare a kit of their
emotions as something to be squashed can have long-term favourite things: a toy or a book.
repercussions on the child’s emotional strength. Children express When they’re upset, the teacher
emotions in different ways since they often don’t know how to deal directs them to their kit which helps them relax.
with them. Group activities like craft, recitation and singing make children
A tool used extensively by teachers in Gitanjali School is feel a sense of unity, thereby equipping them with emotional strength
the emotion chart displayed in the classroom. Whenever a required to work as a team. Twinning with peers on Friendship
child experiences a positive or negative feeling, he touches the Day, involvement of parents and
corresponding emoji. The teacher then talks to the child and helps grandparents in classroom activities
him deal with the feeling. increase the happiness quotient.
The Story Telling sessions at Gitanjali are aimed at augmenting Carefree play time teaches children
emotional strength in children. They learn to recognise the emotions to pick themselves up after a fall,
experienced by the characters in the story through the storyteller’s unless hurt and move on.
voice modulations and react to them. One of the goals of Gitanjali
Children are asked to bring objects which make them happy is to create a conducive social
to the classroom and speak about their feeling. As educators, we environment in which children
must use children’s emotional outbursts as opportunities to connect develop emotional strength and
with them. Ask for the reason. Listen attentively while children tell thereby grow up to become
you what prompted them to behave that way. Name the feeling that responsible, loving, and caring
they may be experiencing. Help them develop an awareness of and individuals.
vocabulary for their emotional expression.

Expressing feelings: By Jaishree Narayan, Pre primary consultant & Psychological
counselor – Gitanjali Group of Schools
When a child looks sad you could say, “Are you feeling disappointed
EDUCATIONWORLD DECEMBER 2022