Growing Cognitive Intelligence for Children
Deepika, Tournesol Kids volunteer
We know emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. Having high emotional intelligence is an integral part of our cognitive intelligence. Cognitive intelligence uses feelings, imagination and logic to promote healthy attention that helps students gain a larger perspective of their life in relationship to their context.
Developing cognitive intelligence will allow the children to develop the ability to reason, solve problems, comprehend complex ideas as well as the ability to cope with and recover from stress. These skills are critical for all higher learning.
There are various exercises for children based on their secret power. Some of the exercises are:
- Mapping Tomorrow: Planning is an executive function all children need to develop. This exercise will help children in becoming more organized, imagining and planning for the future. Creating a map of the day builds confidence and lowers anxiety in managing the transitions and meeting unexpected challenges.
- Mood Meter: Developing emotional intelligence will allow the children to develop the ability to reason, solve problems, comprehend complex ideas as well as the ability to cope with and recover from stress. The Mood meter exercise helps children become connoisseurs of feelings in order to gain a deeper perspective on what is alive and constantly changing inside their hearts.
- Connecting Feelings to Needs: Discuss with children the importance of connection between feelings and their underlying needs. The connection and understanding of the underlying needs can help grow empathy, resolve conflicts and thus develop emotional intelligence.
Growing cognitive intelligence is also the bridge to our higher spiritual growth as a whole-hearted human being which is third facet of the Tournesol #PowerUp Program. The Tournesol #PowerUp Program encourages teachers and parents to practice cognitive intelligence exercises with their children as it helps in the holistic development of the children, allowing them to lead fulfilling successful lives.