Episode #211 Gratitude and Emotional Intelligence

Gratitude and Emotional Intelligence go hand in hand - both are skills that require practice to develop fully. The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence suggests three parts to a "gratitude practice": paying attention, writing about it, and expressing it to "complete the feeling of connection". As we teach young children a "gratitude practice", I suggest first help them to stop and recognize the moments of value and their own feelings (See Me Hear Me Appreciate what matters to me). Second, create age-appropriate routines to make gratitude an ongoing habit. And finally, create action to express that gratitude to others and that gives children the power to help others from a place of abundance and resourcefulness. Happy Thanksgiving!