Just the other day, I stumbled upon a photo book filled with tiny Aryaa in action. I remember as a new mother, I had an endless stream of ideas and activities that I had in mind for her. So much that my husband had to remind me that it has only been a few weeks that our mini human has come into existence and that I should just let her be! I did realize that my super active mind had to take a chill pill. However, there was one thing I knew I had to be very particular about right from Aryaa's early days: her emotional development.
While as parents we are deeply focused on our child’s physical and cognitive development, we should also be more mindful about their emotional development, an important aspect which will be responsible for shaping their behavior, relationships, and ability to learn. EQ is as important as IQ and that I had to teach Aryaa to identify, decode, express, and regulate her feelings from an early age.
Emotional architecture is a result of many years of experiences and exchanges and to ensure that it is built properly, it is our duty as parents to engage our kids in activities as well as feed them nutrition that boosts their emotional quotient. Helping our little ones’ navigate their way through a complex network of emotions as they cultivate self-awareness, is a massive task.
Before I delve into how as a mother you can help support better emotional development of your child, here’s a quick low-down on stages of emotional development -
● 0 to 18 months: This is a tender and crucial time for your infant as he/she is completely dependent on you. The only emotions your infant will show in this stage are that of happiness, interest, surprise, and distress.
● 18 to 24 months: This is the stage where children begin developing more complex emotions like embarrassment, guilt, pride, and jealousy. You will also notice that they are also able to catch your expressions.
● 2 to 6 years: This is known as the formative phase of child development. Not only do children of this age become sensitive of other people’s emotions but also become aware of theirs. Everything we do or say as adults is absorbed by the child as he/she doesn’t have the filter of right and wrong. This is where our real work as parents begins.
Now we come to the crux of this blog post, which is how we can implant opportunities for emotional development of our children through daily activities. Here’s how -
● Playtime: I was so nervous the first time Aryaa had her first playdate. Much to my surprise, she got along really well with the other toddlers and even shared her toys! Friendship skills are really so important and fostering them through activities like book reading (the ones with morals at the end), imaginative play (where they imagine being the caretaker of a doll, toy), singing and dancing (poems with emotions in them like if you’re happy and you know it clap your hands), etc.
● Conversations: As adults, we are so used to expressing our emotions but when it comes to our children, with all those emerging emotions, they find it difficult to express them. This is why talking to children about your emotions will help them better open up about theirs. When they are toddlers, you can try conveying your feelings through hand gestures and facial expressions and encourage them to do the same. As they grow old, you can share your emotions and prod them to share what they feel.
● Nutrition: Nutrient-rich foods help boost the emotional development of children. I have always been extremely particular about the food Aryaa eats and ensure that she is getting all the required vitamins, minerals and all the other type of nutrients required for aiding her overall growth. Of all the nutrients, DHA is the most effective. DHA is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that is known to support the functioning of the brain. The area of the brain that is most influenced by DHA is the prefrontal lobe. This part is linked to emotional and social development, thereby making it a must-have nutrient in your child’s food. The sad part is DHA has few food sources and is not easily absorbed by our bodies.
For years, I had been looking for a product that was DHA enriched and can promote the emotional development of my baby girl. After my weeks on researching, I came across Enfagrow A+, a high quality, nutritionally balanced milk formula. Made specifically for children 2 years and above by the world-renowned Mead Johnson Research and Development Center, Enfagrow A+ is designed using key nutrients for holistic brain development necessary for emotional, social, motor, and communication skills.
Aryaa has been drinking Enfagrow A+ for the last 3 months and I have been seeing the difference myself. It goes without saying that there are no overnight miracles but miracles happening over a period of time. I’d love to know from other mommies who are using Enfagrow A+ for their children, if they have also noticed any positive changes in their kids. Do leave your observations in the comments below. 💛
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It's enlightening to see how much good can affect the things we do! Especially something as important as a child's emotional development! Really nice read!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Food plays a huge role hence nutrition is so important!
DeleteSorry, I meant *food
ReplyDeleteVery informative article. We often neglect the emotional part.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yes a lot of people do neglect.
DeleteNice pictures. Very nice article
ReplyDeleteThank you Raksha :)
DeleteSounds like a very useful product for children.
ReplyDeleteIt is! I am quite impressed with it!
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