Building Emotional Intelligence

At Pacific, we aim to grow young people’s emotional intelligence so that they can live fuller lives and be more effective in their learning and relationships. Recently, I was reading some research on growing emotional intelligence in school students. The research showed that in over 100 case studies, deliberate teaching of emotional intelligence skills produced impressive results. This research can be found in Linda Lantieri’s book, Building Emotional Intelligence. The data shows impressive improvement in student behaviour in and out of the classroom. Students not only mastered abilities like calming down and getting along better, but they also learned more effectively. Helping young people develop their emotions and relationships also makes them better learners. Scientists now believe that improving attention and memory, along with freeing the mind from impulsivity and distress, puts a young person’s mind in the best zone for learning. Social and emotional learning in subjects like Personal Development and Christian Studies and pastoral care activities does just that.

As parents, you can do the VIA character strengths test online. If your child is in the Middle or Senior College, they have completed this test in their PD classes. It could be interesting to discuss your top five strengths and compare them with your child’s strengths. The research also shows that these sorts of conversations are important in shaping a young person’s social and emotional neural circuits. One area of the brain most shaped by these sorts of conversations is the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s executive centre. This area holds the circuits both for inhibiting disruptive emotional impulses and for paying attention, for calming and focusing. Therefore by offering a secure and caring base in these discussions, parents can help create an environment that lets their children’s brains function at their best.

Mr Brendan Delaney, Director of Students