Emotional Intelligence: The 80% Success Factor. Are Your Child’s EQ Levels Low? 3 Behaviours to Look Out For and Tips to Nurture Their Emotional Growth.

Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, refers to the ability to recognize, manage, and express one’s own emotions as well as understand and respond to the emotions of others. It is an incredibly important aspect of a child’s holistic development, as it profoundly impacts various areas of life.

In day-to-day life, if children frequently exhibit the following three behaviors, it may be a sign of low EQ, and parents should consider early intervention:

**Inability to control their words**

Many children struggle with restraining and regulating their emotional behavior. They tend to express their emotions spontaneously, without considering the consequences of their actions.

This is partly due to their underdeveloped cognitive and emotional management skills. Children may find it challenging to comprehend the emotions of others and predict how their actions might cause embarrassment or anger. As a result, they may unintentionally hurt others without realizing it.

Additionally, children often focus on themselves and expressing their own ideas and thoughts. They may have a narrow understanding of situations, which can annoy others when they fail to consider the emotions and perspectives of those around them.

This lack of self-control can negatively impact social relationships and make it difficult for children to make friends and fit into groups, leading to feelings of isolation and low self-esteem. Therefore, it is crucial to address these issues by teaching children EQ skills.


**Interrupting conversations and seeking attention**

Children who crave presence and higher regard are more likely to interrupt others’ conversations. They may become “bossy” and “arrogant” in social situations, even though they know that interrupting is impolite.

These children tend to view themselves as the center of the universe and crave attention. Sometimes, they desire to be valued, recognized, and seen as superior to their peers. As a result, during conversations, they tend to interrupt and divert attention to themselves without considering that they are disrupting the flow of the discussion.

This behavior reflects a lack of patience and respect for others. These children focus solely on their desire to be heard and spoken to, without considering the speaker’s perspective. They believe their ideas are the most important and fail to listen to others, always wanting to impose their views. This can lead to conflicts and strained relationships.

To address this issue, parents should teach children listening skills, patience, and respect for others. Children need to learn how to wait and politely express their opinions. Additionally, encouraging children to share, listen, and learn from others will help them become more humble and considerate in their interactions.


**Dependence and entitlement**

When children are accustomed to their parents doing everything for them, they may develop a sense of entitlement, expecting the same treatment from others. In their daily lives, they might create unnecessary trouble, even for tasks they are capable of doing, and blame others to avoid exerting effort.

This mentality stems from overly indulgent parenting, where parents strive to ensure their child’s happiness and shield them from any difficulties. However, this approach can lead to negative consequences in the long run.

When children are used to their parents’ meticulous care, they tend to expect the same from others instead of taking the initiative to solve problems themselves. They become passive, lacking the motivation to learn essential life skills and develop self-reliance.


In social interactions, these children may exhibit an “entitled” attitude and deliberately cause trouble, expecting others to come to their aid. They won’t hesitate to blame others when they don’t want to do something, just to avoid effort and challenges.

For instance, when asked to clean their room, they might whine, “Can’t you do it for me?” or “Why do I have to clean my room? My friends don’t have to do this.” This behavior reflects laziness and a lack of responsibility.

To foster self-reliance and a sense of responsibility, parents should refrain from doing everything for their children. Instead, they should teach them how to manage their own tasks and encourage them to persevere through difficulties. While providing guidance and support when needed, parents should ultimately allow children to face and take responsibility for their actions.