Close Ad

Do Emotionally Intelligent Parents Have More Emotionally Intelligent Kids?
Parents holding adorable baby
Parenting

Do Emotionally Intelligent Parents Have More Emotionally Intelligent Kids?

Over the past decade, there’s been a lot of buzz about emotional intelligence (or EQ). And for good reason.

parents-holding-adorable-baby

Emotional intelligence refers to a person’s ability to effectively navigate the emotional component of personal and interpersonal experiences.


It’s quickly come to be considered one of the single most important skills for workplace relations, leadership, and general social skill development within just a few short years (or, at least, we’ve finally become aware of its role).

Because of the importance of EQ, if you’re an emotionally intelligent person you might be wondering, “does my being emotionally intelligent mean my child is more likely to become emotionally intelligent?” And if you’re not, you might be wondering if your own work to develop your emotional intelligence is likely to pay off for your child.

They’re great questions, especially if you’re trying to set your child up for success in the future. But is it true? Or does it not matter at all how emotionally intelligent you are, you’ll have to teach them from scratch?

Fortunately, recent research can answer that exact question as well as offer some suggestions for how to help your child develop more emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence is a very important skill set, not just to be happier but also to succeed professionally.

– Daniel Lubetzky

Do emotionally intelligent parents have more emotionally intelligent kids?

A recent study published in the Journal of Adolescence sought to find out if a parent’s emotional intelligence could predict their child’s emotional intelligence in turn.

Researchers studied one-hundred and fifty-two families with teens between the ages of sixteen and seventeen years old and looked for signs of the transmission of emotional intelligence qualities from parent to child.

The results showed a clear sign that parents can likely pass on the qualities of emotional intelligence to their children.

That’s great news if you consider yourself emotionally intelligent. But what if you’re not?

What if you don’t consider yourself emotionally intelligent? (and developing EQ in your child)

What if emotional intelligence is a quality you consider important but you don’t believe you were blessed with much in the way of natural EQ?

EQ can develop naturally in a person, however, it’s also a factor that you have full control over. By utilizing the right exercises, you can develop emotional intelligence yourself which you can then pass on to your child.

Because the basis of emotional intelligence is considered self-awareness, developing a regular mindfulness practice can be highly beneficial for increasing your EQ.

Mindfulness is also an easy exercise to teach your child as it can be done within a matter of minutes each day (you could even sit and meditate together).

In addition to this, start keeping a journal where you write down how you’re feeling each day and learn to pay closer attention to the emotions that are bubbling up from your mind.

Also, make it a regular practice to sit down with your child and talk to them about how they’re feeling. This will not only help them develop their EQ but you as well by practicing the art of listening (and it’s a great bonding exercise!).

Hot Stories

Why Jennifer Hudson Forgave Her Mother's Killer -- Life Stories By Goalcast

At the peak of her career, Jennifer Hudson faced a horrific family tragedy. Hudson's mother and brother were brutally attacked in their family home, and her seven-year-old nephew was kidnapped. What followed was a heart-wrenching manhunt to rescue her nephew and seek justice against the man who took her family. Hudson speaks from the heart in this video on what happened to her family and how she was able to move forward.

Celebrities
People smiling in unison united
Racism Quotes

Racism is considered the marginalization and/or oppression of people of color based on a socially constructed racial hierarchy that privileges another race. The term is applied in many areas of a society that perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race or strengthen racial inequalities in education, health care, income, and civil rights.

Ever since the 20th century, the concept of biological race is considered a cultural invention that has no scientific basis. The progress over the past half-century has been impressive, but the nation still has a long way to go to reach true racial equality.

Keep ReadingShow less
Everyday Heroes
hands are put together as part of community volunteer efforts
Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash

A community is so much more than people sharing a space. It's a living, breathing network of connections and shared experiences. While it's usually defined as “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common,” true community runs much deeper than that.

Diversity

Keep ReadingShow less
Quotes