Importance of Emotional Intelligence for Children's

Written By: Dr. Rubee Singh (Author: Government Schemes for Child Protection in India)

Topic: Importance of Emotional Intelligence for Children's

Date: 10/07/2020

Note: 1- We need to teach children not only to have higher IQ but also to have higher EQ and SQ.........................

Emotional intelligence is measured in terms of Emotional Intelligence Quotient or EQ. Emotional intelligence is important for a child not only to understand himself, but also helps him to understand the feelings and emotions of others. 

A child with a high emotional quotient will become more responsible and respectful. He will have an increased ability to show empathy, and find it easier to develop self restraint. On the other hand, a child with a low emotional intelligence will often feel helpless. If a child receives very little emotional support at home he will be vulnerable to peer pressure, worry, and anxiety. A child may deal with his anxiety and fear by hiding it under a facade of toughness. This could lead to his turning into a bully, or becoming an under-achiever suffering from low motivation.

According to psychologists, there are four types of intelligence: IQ, EQ, SQ, AQ

1) Intelligence Quotient (IQ)

2) Emotional Quotient (EQ)

3) Social Quotient (SQ)

4) Adversity Quotient (AQ)

1. Intelligence Quotient (IQ): this is the measure of your comprehension ability" solve maths, memorize things and recall subject matters.

2. Emotional Quotient (EQ): this is the measure of your ability to maintain peace with others, keep to time, be responsible, be honest, respect boundaries, be humble, genuine and considerate.

3. Social Quotient (SQ): This is the measure of your ability to build a network of friends and maintain. It over a long period of time.

People who have higher EQ and SQ tend to go farther in life than those with high IQ but low EQ and SQ. Most schools capitalize in improving IQ level while EQ and SQ are played down.

A man of high IQ can end up being employed by a man of high EQ and SQ even though he has an average IQ. Your EQ represents your character; your SQ represents your charisma. Give in to habits that will improve these three Qs but more especially your EQ and SQ. EQ and SQ make one manage better than the other. 

So we need to teach children not only to have higher IQ, but also to have higher EQ and SQ. Now, given the VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity and Ambiguity) environment we are in there is a 4th one....

4. The Adversity Quotient (AQ):  The measure of your ability to go through a rough patch in life and come out without losing your mind. AQ determines who will give up in face of troubles and may abandon their families. In the current context of Corona, many professionally successful people are going through bouts of Depression Because they haven't seen and thus are unprepared for any kind of adversity.

Note: 2- We do teach our business management students about the need to develop adversity quotients because of VUCA environment we are in but to overcome such frustrating situations one needs emotional support.