How to Build Emotional Intelligence in Early Childhood Classrooms

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise, understand, and manage one’s own emotions while empathising with others. For young children, developing EI lays the foundation for meaningful relationships, better communication, and a positive learning environment.

Research from Harvard’s Centre on the Developing Child shows that emotional intelligence is closely tied to social-emotional skills, which are critical for academic and personal success. In early childhood classrooms, teaching EI can transform how children interact with peers, navigate challenges, and build resilience.

Here’s how educators can integrate emotional intelligence into their daily routines and activities to nurture well-rounded, empathetic learners.

1. Create a Safe and Supportive Environment

Young children thrive in environments where they feel secure and valued. Building emotional intelligence starts with creating a classroom culture that encourages open expression of feelings.

Practical Tips:

• Establish a “Feelings Board” with visual cues (e.g., smiley, sad, and neutral faces). Ask students to place their name near the face that matches their mood at the start of each day.

• Use affirmations like, “It’s okay to feel upset; I can talk about it,” to help children articulate their emotions.

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Why It Works: A safe environment allows children to express themselves without fear, building trust and emotional awareness.

2. Teach Emotional Vocabulary

Many young children struggle to identify or label their feelings, which can lead to frustration or behavioural issues.

Activities to Try:

• Emotion Flashcards: Use cards with pictures of faces showing different emotions (e.g., happy, angry, surprised). Encourage children to match the emotion to a situation they’ve experienced.

• Feelings Storytime: Read books like The Color Monster by Anna Llenas or In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek, and discuss the emotions of the characters.

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Extend It: Introduce classroom journaling for older toddlers, with prompts like “Draw how you feel today.”

3. Incorporate Role-Playing and Pretend Play

Pretend play is a natural way for young children to explore emotions and practice empathy.

Examples:

• Scenario Acting: Act out situations like sharing toys or resolving disagreements. Let children take turns being the “helper” or the “friend in need.”

• Puppet Play: Use puppets to discuss scenarios like feeling left out or apologising after an argument.

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Why It Works: Role-playing allows children to practice emotional responses in a safe and structured way.

4. Model Emotional Intelligence as an Educator

Children learn by observing the adults around them. Demonstrate emotional intelligence in your interactions with students and colleagues.

How to Model:

• Acknowledge your own emotions: “I feel frustrated because we’re running out of time, but I’ll take a deep breath to stay calm.”

• Apologise when necessary: “I made a mistake earlier, and I’m sorry. Let’s try again together.”

  
  

Why It Works: When children see emotional intelligence in action, they are more likely to replicate those behaviours.

5. Use Collaborative Activities to Build Empathy

Empathy is a key component of emotional intelligence. Help children understand and care about others’ feelings through teamwork.

Activities:

• Buddy Time: Pair children to complete simple tasks, like building a puzzle or organising toys. Encourage them to share compliments or positive feedback about their buddy.

• Gratitude Circle: At the end of the day, have each child share one thing they appreciated about a classmate.

  
  

Why It Works: Collaborative activities help children see things from their peers’ perspectives and foster kindness.

6. Incorporate Mindfulness Practices

Mindfulness teaches children to focus on the present and regulate their emotions effectively.

Mindfulness Activities:

• Breathing Exercises: Teach simple techniques like “balloon breathing,” where children imagine blowing up a balloon as they exhale.

• Quiet Time: Set aside a few minutes each day for children to sit quietly and listen to calming music or nature sounds.

  
  

Extend It: Use tools like sensory bottles or calming jars during mindfulness sessions.

7. Celebrate Emotional Growth

Acknowledge and celebrate milestones in emotional intelligence, like sharing toys, resolving a conflict, or expressing gratitude.

Ideas:

• Create a “Kindness Wall” where students can write or draw acts of kindness they observed in their classmates.

• Reward emotional growth with verbal praise or stickers that say, “Great job being a kind friend!”

  
  

Why It Works: Celebrating progress reinforces positive behaviours and motivates children to keep improving.

Small Steps, Big Impact

Teaching emotional intelligence in early childhood classrooms doesn’t require complex programs or extra hours. It’s about embedding small, meaningful practices into your daily routines. By modelling EI, fostering empathy, and encouraging emotional expression, you can empower young learners to navigate their feelings and build strong relationships.

As they grow, these skills will become the foundation for academic success, social connections, and personal well-being. Start today, and watch your students flourish emotionally and socially!