Fostering Emotional Intelligence Early On: Montessori Toys Can Help 

Emotional intelligence. It has been a buzzword for quite a while. So much so that even job recruiters rank it as one of the top 10 skills employers are looking for. Unlike many other buzzwords you can come across, this one… is actually more than that.

It’s an actual skill that can give you a decent advantage in life – both personal and professional. Studies show that kids who learn about their emotions early on can think and remember better. Certain experts even say understanding your emotions is as important as retaining school knowledge for later success.

When it comes to helping kids with this, Montessori toys are a game-changer. They're designed to help kids grasp emotions.

But first,

Emotional intelligence is a skill that helps people understand their feelings and the feelings of others. And not only understand but control as well. It goes from recognizing and labeling them all the way to finding the best ways to react in various situations.

Emotional intelligence starts developing at an early age. You can notice it in children when they start considering circumstances before they lose their temper.

Early on, children rarely notice other people’s feelings. However, after a while, children start detecting other people’s emotions. Encouraging them to understand and respect other people’s feelings is how you raise emotionally intelligent children.

Emotional intelligence is important for children because it helps them get to know themselves and take control of their emotions over time. That way, children are less nervous when talking to other kids, more focused during conversations, and more self-aware about how they come across to others.

You want your child to communicate better with others? Learn more in less time? Surprise you with their academic achievements? Who doesn’t, right? You don’t need to send your child to a special academy or play Mozart while they’re sleeping.

All you need to do is let them get in touch with their feelings. And no, it’s not as sappy as it might sound.

Think about it: life isn’t just about reading and math; it's also about understanding why we feel the way we do and how to react. As parents, our goal is to prepare our kids for all aspects of life, and emotional smarts are a big part of that.

These skills allow kids to bridge thinking and feeling. Just imagine your child being able to pinpoint their emotions. Like "Why am I upset?" or "Why does my buddy seem down today?" and then taking the right steps based on those insights. That’s not just cute. It’s foundational for their growth as people.

Proper emotional development in children helps them achieve academic success and nurture relationships with their peers. It also helps them understand and have more control over their emotions, which allows them to make better decisions as they grow.

Remember when you were just a kid, feeling nervous about that first solo bus ride or sad about leaving your best friends behind because of a move? What did your parents do to make things easy for you? Did they talk about it with you or leave you thinking you’d figure it out?

Whether it’s just mom, dad, or both parents or caregivers, their approach matters.

Understanding emotions at a young age can be like a superpower. When children understand why they’re feeling a certain way in a certain situation, they’ll be able to take control of their emotions. That will allow them to make better choices and work well with others.

But hold on, you want specific examples? Say no more! Here’s why diving into emotions is important:

• Schoolwork becomes a breeze: When kids have a grip on their emotions, they learn smarter. They’re also more motivated and focused. Their grades become a lot better with less effort.

• Making friends gets easier: Children who know their emotions get along with each other like a charm. They are wonderful team players and don’t have many silly disagreements with their friends and classmates.

• Strong bonds everywhere: Not everything on our list is about school. With a good understanding of feelings, they form tight bonds with family members, other kids in the neighborhood, and everyone they meet. 

Your job as a parent is to help your child get hold of their emotions and develop properly. But that doesn’t mean you couldn’t use some help to do so. Ever heard of the Montessori method? 

The Italian doctor Maria Montessori developed the Montessori approach to child education in the early 1900s. It focuses on self-paced, explorative learning for children. Montessori encourages children to explore and learn on their own using specialized toys and environments.

Montessori is a unique teaching method that's all about letting kids be curious and learn at their own pace. Maria Montessori, the expert this method was named after, believed in treating kids as eager learners, not just kids who sit and listen.

What's cool about Montessori? It's all about giving kids the driver's seat in their own learning. A lot of parents like this because it feels natural and just follows how kids grow.

A big part of Montessori is the special toys and spaces created specifically to stimulate kids in a way they learn everything quickly. Montessori classrooms are designed to make kids want to play, explore, and learn on their own.

Oh, and the toys? They’re no ordinary toys. They’re hand-picked to help kids think, feel, and play in ways that teach them more about themselves and the world.