Raising emotionally intelligent kids: 5 games to get you started
What's the story
Mindful games are a powerful tool for cultivating emotional intelligence in children.
These games teach kids to identify and regulate their emotions, promoting empathy and social skills.
By practicing mindfulness through play, children learn to understand and manage their feelings with greater ease.
This article highlights five mindful games that enhance emotional intelligence in kids, equipping them with skills for improved emotional control and social understanding.
Drive 1
Feelings Charades: Understanding emotions
Feelings Charades is a game in which children take turns acting out emotions without using words, while others try to guess the emotion.
This activity not only teaches children to identify and express feelings but also fosters empathy.
By learning to identify facial expressions and body language associated with emotions, children gain a better understanding of how emotions manifest in themselves and others.
Drive 2
Emotion Cards: Building emotional vocabulary
Emotion Cards entail utilizing cards illustrating various emotions through pictures or words.
Children select a card and narrate instances when they experienced that emotion or observed someone else feeling it.
This game enhances children's emotional vocabulary, allowing them to express their feelings more accurately.
It also fosters conversations about managing different emotions.
Drive 3
Mindful breathing: Enhancing self-regulation
In Mindful Breathing, children pay close attention to their breath as they take a deep inhale through the nose and a slow exhale through the mouth.
This simple yet powerful technique is a go-to strategy for helping kids calm down during stressful or overwhelming situations.
It fosters relaxation and self-regulation.
Plus, with regular practice, mindful breathing can boost focus, lower anxiety levels, and support overall emotional well-being.
Drive 4
Empathy Puzzles: Fostering compassion
Empathy Puzzles are collaborative activities where children cooperate to solve puzzles while discussing how characters might feel in different situations pictured on the puzzle pieces.
This teamwork aspect promotes kindness, as kids learn to think about how others might feel in different situations.
By playing this game, children develop teamwork skills and learn to understand different perspectives, improving their empathy and social skills.
Drive 5
Gratitude journals: Cultivating positivity
In this activity, kids jot down things they are thankful for each day in a special journal for gratitude reflections.
By keeping a gratitude journal, kids can cultivate a positive mindset by focusing on the good in their lives instead of getting stuck on the negatives.
This simple practice can boost happiness, strengthen relationships, and build resilience over time.