I frequently find educated people debating on higher IQ levels of the child despite being great in handling day to day issues, all sorted from the child is outstanding performance in school grades. This draws our attention to the topic -What is more important for a child: to be ‘book-smart ‘or ‘street -smart’. There is a contrasting ideology about the relative importance of cognitive intelligence (IQ) and emotional intelligence (EQ) that needs to be developed in a child at the early stages of life.
Let’s look into how to differentiate between a healthy child’s IQ and EQ.
Standardized IQ tests are prepared and taken by people of all groups, the score represents and compares the test taker’s score to other people in the same age group. IQ represents abilities such as:
1) Virtual and spatial processing
2) Knowledge and understanding of the world
3) Reasoning ability
4) Long -term and short-term memory
5) Quantitative reasoning
On the other hand, Emotional Intelligence refers to a child's ability to understand, control, evaluate and express emotions. Many researchers have highlighted the importance of EQ, especially for early school goers as this is the time when they learn to socialize and vent out their emotions.
EQ is centered on the abilities such as:
1) First and foremost, identifying emotions
2) Understanding and evaluating how others feel
3) Taking control of one’s own emotions
4) Using emotions to facilitate social communication with peers
5) Relating and empathizing with others
Nowadays parents can buy toys that claim to help boost emotional intelligence or adapt social and emotional learning programs designed to teach emotional intelligence skills.
IQ is still considered an important element to gauge success, particularly when it comes to academic achievement, those with well developed IQ do well in school, often earn more money, and tend to be healthier in general.
Despite such reaping benefits, scholars still feel strategies for teaching emotional intelligence must be entwined with learning of subjects because they include character education, modeling positive behaviors, encouraging people to think about how others are feeling, and finding ways to be more empathetic towards everyone. There are endless examples from around the world that demonstrate the fact that nowadays, EQ has become a core aspect for success in life. Business tycoons, sports persons, celebrities and so on have proved it again and again to the world that only a great IQ does not guarantee success but a blend of IQ and EQ in the right proportion is essential for our children right from their early years of life.
The most important point to be discussed is when and where does the teaching of EQ start?
You would be amazed to know that it starts from the day one of a child’s birth and the first educators are the family members. One does not need any specialization as required to be an educator for teaching EQ to a child, the only requirements are positive mindset and zeal to see the child emotionally strong in life, able to deal with the toughest situation. If every parent takes out some time from their busy schedule and helps the child understand the world around them and how to socialize, their first lesson of life becomes successful.
A child’s home is the first place where he/she is exposed and taught EQ, their soft mind can be molded beautifully only by their parents and family members as they are the first exposure for their child, who is at a comfort zone when with the family members at home, they have no fear of mistakes or even being observed by others. They can be made emotionally strong in a play way before they are exposed to the outside world, where they have to socialize especially with peers and teachers in school or other places like shopping malls or even parks.
So, let's join hands because IQ can be enhanced through learning but EQ can only be cultivated with love and patience. We should make it our motto to help in the development of both EQ and IQ as I firmly believe a holistic development is the outcome of the blend of two.
As parents, educators and caregivers it becomes even more important that we guide our children to be leaders of tomorrow by inculcating the right values, ethics and emotions in them from their initial years of growing and learning. Success in life depends on many factors. In my opinion both EQ and IQ have their roles to play in the overall success, wellness, happiness and health of the child. In addition to strengthening cognitive abilities, such as memory and acquired knowledge, it should also be considered important that the child acquires and improves on social and emotional skills. Here I leave for you to decide, what is more important for our children EQ or IQ.
Thank you...!
