Emotional intelligence: Helping children (and parents) thrive
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is at the heart of everything we do at Enrich. It gives children the tools and strategies for a happy, and successful lives.
What is emotional intelligence?
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to recognise and name emotions in yourself and in others. Through EQ, the children learn essential skills such as emotional awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and resilience.
EQ helps the children be, feel and do well as it provides the children with the tools and strategies to:
- Recognise and name their feelings.
- Understand how emotions affect their body & behaviour.
- Express emotions in a healthy way.
- Empathise with others.
- Respond calmly to challenges.
These aren’t traits children are born with — they’re life skills learned along the way.
Emotional awareness lays the foundation for peaceful homes and healthy relationships
Why EQ matters so much in the early years
Emotional intelligence gives your child a head start in school and life. Research even shows that emotional intelligence is directly linked to:
- Better self-regulation
- Less anxiety
- Being able to express their feelings in healthy ways
- Resilience – bouncing back from setbacks
- Being kind and having empathy for others
- Better self-belief
- Better friendships
- Having the courage to step outside their comfort zone and try new things
How EQ is integrated at Enrich
At Enrich, EQ isn’t a one-off lesson — it’s embedded in everything we do. All our educators get ongoing EQ training and are personally coached by our EQ expert, Ellen. This provides the educators with additional tools and strategies to help the children develop a strong mindset and the skills to navigate social situations such as navigating exclusion on the playground or going to a new school.
Emotional intelligence rituals in our centre
Emotion coaching
Our educators use big feelings as teachable moments. When a child feels overwhelmed, we offer empathy, help them identify what they’re feeling, and gently guide them to find a solution.
EQ modelling
Children learn by watching us. We model calm, respectful communication and show children how to manage emotions with kindness and confidence — we call it ‘teaching by being’.
EQ classes
Our older children enjoy EQ classes, where they learn to recognise and talk about their feelings, recognise emotions in others, and navigate challenging social situations with empathy and clarity.
Activity program
We use yoga, meditation, and books about feelings to help children tune into their bodies and emotions. They learn that all feelings are welcome—and that they can choose how to respond.
The EQM difference: What families and schools notice
Our families often tell us how much calmer, more expressive and emotionally resilient their children have become. One local primary school shared that children from Enrich arrive calm, regulated, and ready to learn — a direct result of the foundation we build in their early years.
When children grow up in an emotionally intelligent environment, they develop:
- Resilience in the face of challenges.
- Strong self-esteem and self-awareness.
- The ability to make and keep friends.
- Confidence in expressing their needs.
- A lifelong sense of emotional safety.
These are the tools that support not only academic success but also personal success in life.
Emotional awareness lays the foundation for peaceful homes and healthy relationships
How emotional intelligence supports parents, too
We empower our families with EQ tools and strategies through our podcast, newsletter, our ‘EQ at home’ guide and personal conversations about, for example:
- Responding to big feelings with calm and empathy.
- Navigating your own feelings when dealing with a frustrated toddler.
- Breaking unhelpful patterns.
- Build stronger, more connected relationships at home.
- Enjoy parenthood more.
Our families often share that their biggest challenge is getting their child to listen — and I get it. I was one of those parents, too: frustrated and exhausted from repeating myself. That’s why I believe it’s so important to not only support the children in our care but also extend that support to their families.
Come and see EQ in action
We would love to meet your family, show you around our beautiful centre, and help you explore the best options for your child’s care and education.