Growing Your Child's Emotional Intelligence - Ages 5-7

Expressing Myself

It is okay to tell other people what I like and what I do not like. Color the picture below, and then circle your favorite thing to do.

There are times when it’s important to say, “NO!” Make a list of people you should talk with to help you make right decisions.
a. ______________________________
b. ______________________________
c. ______________________________

Making Decisions

Making decisions on our own is an important part of growing up. It makes us feel better about ourselves when we do something useful or do something for someone else. Here is a list of things for you to choose to do. Decide if you would or would not do each thing.

• Call someone a name
• Send Grandma a birthday card
• Blame someone else for something you did
• Ask a friend to lie about something
• Tell someone you don’t like them
• Say “Thank you” when given a gift
• Take the biggest piece of cake
• Do your chores without being asked

I Can Do That!

Being able to do things without help makes us feel good about ourselves. Sometimes it is something we can learn through lessons and practice, like dance or music or sports. Sometimes it is doing things to help others.
Think about some things that you are learning to do by yourself. Write them on the lines below.
EXAMPLE:
a. Feed my pet
b. ______________________________
c. ______________________________
d. ______________________________
e. ______________________________

Always Learning and Growing

As we grow, we learn there are always new things that are interesting and meaningful for us. Trying new skills and learning new talents will help us feel good about ourselves and encourage us to do better. What are some things that interest you that you would like to do better? For example: Reading

Write a Note 

It’s nice to make someone you know feel special. Make a card with a one-sentence message on it.
EXAMPLE: Happiness is having you for a brother.
You are a good friend because _______________________
You are special because _____________________________
Thank you for _______________________________________
Happiness is having you for a brother.

How Others Feel

Understanding how others feel helps us get along with others. Before doing something to someone else, we should think about how it would make us feel if someone did the same thing to us.

Circle YES or NO for each question below.

Would you like it if someone…

• teased you? YES NO
• called you a name? YES NO
• pushed you out of line? YES NO
• broke your favorite plaything? YES NO
• laughed when you made a mistake? YES NO
• blamed you for something you didn’t do? YES NO
• took your share of something? YES NO

Playing Your Part

Have you ever been in a school play? Every actor has to practice their part and work along with others who are in the play. It takes lots of practice. Sometimes we make mistakes, but that’s when we take a deep breath and try again. Think of some ways you can practice being nice or respectful or more helpful. Finish each sentence below.

EXAMPLE: I can do better in my town by not throwing trash on the ground.
I can do better at school, if I ________________________________.
I can do better at home, if I __________________________________.
I can do better with my friend, if I ____________________________.

Making Friends

Learning how to get along with others is important. Think of some other words about a good friend and write them on the lines:

EXAMPLE: Bravery
_____________ _____________
_____________ _____________
_____________ _____________

Choose one of the words that you wrote and make a poster about the word. You will need construction paper, crayons or colored pencils.

One of a Kind

Did you know that is what you are? There is no one else in the world exactly like you. That is true for everyone and even for animals and nature. Even though we are all different, there are things we can enjoy and learn from each other. Do you sometimes feel strong like a horse? or brave like a lion?
Make a list of the different feelings you have about yourself:
a. EXAMPLE: full of energy
b. ______________________
c. ______________________

Stretching Our Abilities

Changes will happen as we grow up. We can use those changes to learn new things. What if you and your parents had to move to another country because of their work? Would you feel scared because you will have to go some place where you’ve never been before? Would you feel unhappy because you’ll have to leave your friends? You may have these feelings, but they don’t have to last. Think of the interesting things that could do. You could learn a new language, like “Welcome” in French, You could make new friends. You could see new places. The important part is that we are willing to learn and grow,
Think about moving to a new place and finish the sentences below.

I would feel __________________________________________
I would want to see ____________________________________
I would want to write a letter to____________________________
I would learn_________________________________________

Changing Times

 There are times in our lives when our experience will change.Maybe you and your family will move to a new home and you will need to change schools and leave your friends. Change is not easy, but if we think about making new friends and learning new things we will have a much better experience.
Think of ways you can make a new experience interesting:

a. EXAMPLE: Write a letter to your friends at your old school.
b. _________________________________________________.
c. _________________________________________________.
d. _________________________________________________.
e. _________________________________________________.

Resolving Conflict

Have each child make a hand puppet. Once this activity is complete—have them role-play using the puppet.  Examples that they may role-play:

• Responsibility: Brother/sister picking up their toys.
• Sharing: One puppet says this is my toy and pushes the other puppet away.

Group Activity: Have the puppets take turns talking about what is happening between the two puppets and emphasize the listening skill for the other puppet. Ask that each puppet come up with an answer. Then choose which one is best.

Staying on Top

Do you ever feel like you do not want to get up in the morning? Do you sometimes feel you do not want to go to school? When we feel sad or happy there are things we can do to make us feel better. It always helps to think of things that make you feel good and happy. Put a check mark by the things that would make you feel better:

• Riding your bike
• Drawing a picture for a friend
• Making a card for your parents
• Playing with friends

What are some other things that you can do to feel better?

a. _______________________________
b. ______________________________
c. ______________________________

Dancing the Blues Away!

Do you feel gloomy and in a bad mood? Are you upset about something that you can do nothing about? Sometimes when you feel down or upset you can get in a better mood and feel better if you turn on the music and dance. You can dance silly, or fancy, You can even see if you can get others to join in your fun.
Like with Dad, Mom, brother, sister, grandparents, pets, or friends.

Treat Yourself

 This is a story about three brothers who, as a treat, got to go to the store and each one was allowed to buy his own bag of candy. The youngest, Christopher, is excited about the candy he receives and begins eating it right away. Before long, his candy is all gone, and then he is upset that his brothers still have candy and he does not. It is always fun to get “treats,” but the “trick” is to eat only a little each day so that the “treat” will last. What do you think Christopher could have done to make the candy last?
Put a check mark beside the answers that you feel are right.
a. Keep the cat away from the candy.
b. Allow himself to eat only one piece of candy each day.
c. Learn to control himself when he is tempted to eat too
much.
d. Follow his brothers’ example and make his candy last longer.

Making Lemonade

Have you ever tasted a lemon? It is sour! But if you squeeze lemons into a pitcher of water and sweeten it, you have lemonade. You can even open a lemonade stand! Optimism is a big word that means we can think of good things even if something seems terrible. Can you think of two good things you could do if one of your parents had to go away because of their job? Maybe you could make a bag of goodies to give them or make a special picture for them to take.
What else could you do?
a. ___________________________________
b. ___________________________________

Let the Sunshine In

All of us have moods that may change from time to time. Sometimes we feel happy and expect good things to happen. Those are good feelings as when the sun rises and shines brightly. Sometimes we may feel sad and not so happy. Sad Happy
Don’t forget, the sun always comes out from behind the clouds and shines brightly again. So, we know there are things that will make us feel happy again. Make a list of things that you can do or think about that will help you feel better when you are feeling down:

a. EXAMPLE: My parent comes home from a trip.
b. _______________________________________.
c. _______________________________________.
d. _______________________________________.
e. _______________________________________.